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THE BUGLE BLAST; 



OR, 



SPIRIT OF THE CONFLICT. 



COMPRISING 



NAVAL AND MILITARY EXPLOITS, DASHING RAIDS, HEROIC 

DEEDS, THRILLING INCIDENTS, SKETCHES, 

ANECDOTES, ETC., ETC. 



When Northerner -vrith "outhron meets, 

Except the Southron fly, 
I tell you then is bloody strife, 

For one or both must die. 



E. S. S. EOUSE 




PHILADELPHIA : 
JAMES CHALLEN & SON 

1864. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, by 

JAMES CHALLEN & SON, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court in and for the Eastern 
District of Pennsylvania. 



->^ 



^ ^^ 



\, 



CONTEI<rTS. 



PAGE. 

Preface 11 

Prologomena « 13 

The Star of the West 27 

Treason of General Twiggs 31 

Lieutenant Slenuner saves Fort Pickens 34 

Inauguration..,., •. 36 

Bombardment of Fort Sumter , 31 

Seventy-five thousand men caDed for 45 

Sketch of General Lyon 48 

Capture of Camp Jackson 49 

Death of Ellsworth 52 

Brilliant exploit of Lieutenant Tompkins 56 

Governor Johnson and the Bebel Chaplains 58 

Cavalier Song ., 60 

Desperate Fight of Corporal Hays' party with Rebel 

Cavalry 61 

How the Rebel Flag was taken at De Soto 62 

Mathias Point Skirmish — Death of Captain Ward 64 

Escape of the Sumter and some of her deeds , 65 

Piratical seizure of the steamer St. Nicholas 68 

Why Buclaior failed to take Louisville 1 

Skedaddle, a Poem , tl 

INIasterly Retreat of Sigel 72 

''I fights mit Sigel," a Poem 77 

An affecting Licident of the War 78 

Tragedy of the schooner S. J. Waring 80 

Terrible fate of the Rebel Privateer Petrel 85 

Death of General Lyon 87 

(5) 



6 CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Zagonyi's Charge 91 

a Poem, by G. H Boker 95 

Capture of Fort Hatteras 96 

The Faithful Dog at Shiloh ....103 

How a Scout lost his Breeches 104 

Capture of Port Royal 106 

Sketch of Gen. T. W. Sherman , Ill 

Death of John A. Washington ...112 

Port Royal Contrabands 113 

Story of the Wrecks 115 

Romance of the War — A gallant deed and Chivalrous 

Return 120 

Contraband Mistake 121 

Battle of Chesnaburg 123 

Running the gauntlet of Forts Jackson and St. Philip 125 

Capture of New Orleans 132 

General Butler in New Orleans 139 

Running the Yicksburg Blockade 141 

Assassination of General Robert L. McCook 142 

Elegy 145 

A Cute Yankee Trick .....145 

General Rosecrans ; 146 

A Federal Major and Texan Widow — Romantic Story. 141 

Colonel Lorin Andrew^s 151 

How the powder was saved from exploding 153 

General Butler's account of Recruiting in Louisiana... 154 

Scene in the Capitol Grounds, near Washington 158 

Narrow Escape 160 

Enlisting Negroes 161 

A Heroic Union Girl.. 162 

A gallant stand by an Illinois Company 163 

Ballooning Extraordinary, related by an eye witness.. 164 

Incidents of the Battle of Chancellors ville 168 

Story of General McClellan Ill 



CONTENTS. 7 



PAOE, 



Sketch of Major-General McClellan 173 

Little Eddie, the Drummer Boy of East Tennessee 174 

Venturesome and successful Scouting Expedition 178 

A Female Soldier and her Experience 179 

Sketch of Lieutenant- General Ulysses S. Grant... 182 

Death of Colonel J. L. Kirby Smith, of 43d Ohio Vol- 
unteers 184 

The Hero of Corinth 187 

Iron-Clad Breastworks 188 

Fun in Camp — A Dog Story 189 

The other side of the Dog Story 190 

Jenkins' mode of paroling Prisoners 191 

Rev. Granville Moody, Colonel of the 74th Ohio 192 

Colonel Lawson's Parole 193 

Practical Joke on General Nelson's teamster 194 

A Costly Mistake, 1862 196 

A Talk with a Rebel at Fort Donelson 197 

Colonel Straight's Cavalry Raid into Georgia 199 

A Heroic Incident 203 

A Sad and Remarkable Incident 205 

Daring Exploit 206 

Romance of the War 208 

Siege of Vicksburg — Adventures of a Rebel Dispatch 

Bearer 210 

The Battle of Gettysburg 216 

Sketch of Major-General Meade 219 

Barbara Frietche — a Poem '. 221 

Capture, Trial and Execution of Colonels Williams 

and Peters of the Rebel Army 223 

Colonel Grierson's Raid 229 

Sketch of Grierson and Incidents in the Raid 239 

A Mule Charge on Rebel Cavalry 242 

Lieutenant-Colonel Philip's Raid in Mississippi 243 

Billy Bray, a Humorous Poem 245 



8 CONTENTS. 



PAGE, 



Sinking of the Cincinnati (gunboat) at Yicksburg 246 

Sketch of Major-General W. T. Slicrman 248 

John Morgan's Raid 249 

Siege and Capitukxtion of Yicksburg 265 

Capitulation of Port Hudson ...., = ..213 

Midnight Charge of the Mule Brigade up Lookout 

Valley = 216 

Story of Sigel 211 

General Order — A Heroine 218 

General Howard — An Incident 280 

Execution of Reuben Stout on Johnson's Island 281 

Colonel Long's Raid on Bragg's Rear .283 

Queer Adventure and Narrow Escape 286 

Escape of Dr. Rucker from a Rebel Prison 281 

Gallantry of Lieutenant Milne..... 292 

John Morgan's Raid again 293 

How John Morgan got three hundred horses 299 

Captain Anderson's Raid 301 

Thrilling Incident at Fort Donelson 304 

General Nelson at Pittsburg Landing 306 

Sketch of Major-General Nelson 308 

Foraging Exploit 311 

Clinton Waters,, the Scout 312 

Torpedo Explosion 314 

How a Guerrilla came to grief 315 

Escape of Lieut. Raynor and others from Richmond... 3 16 

How a Blockade Runner w^as caught 319 

Escape from Libby Prison 328 

Little Johnny Clem 334 



THE BUGLE BLAST; 

OR, 

SPIRIT OF THE CONFLICT 



COMPRISING 



DASHING RAIDS, HEPxOIC DEEDS, 
DESPERATE CONFLICTS, CAPTURES AND ESCAPES 
SKETCHES, POEMS, INCIDENTS, 
ANECDOTES, &c. 



(9) 



PREFACE. 



When flashing eyes and clashing arms 

In direful fury meet, — 
I tell you, then, 'tis life or death, 

Or victory, or defeat ! 

WHle tlie moderate dimensions of this work, and 
consequent cheapness, place it within the reach of all, 
it is hoped that its contents will be found adapted to 
the tastes, and habits of reading, of that numerous class 
who have neither time nor inclination to peruse a 
prolix, consecutive history of the war : and that it will 
also be found to contain much interesting matter, not 
included in any hitherto published history ; thus render- 
ing it a conservatory of valuable materials, for his use, 
who shall, in the future, aspire to the high honor "of 
giving to the world the history of the greatest of all 
modern wars. 

Believing it too early to write the history of the war, 
while it is yet in progress, and while many facts, 
destined to impart new phases to many of the ^cts and 
motives of prominent actors, are yet perdue, in the 
inaccessible portfolios of ofl&cers and others, and may, 
when disclosed, require essential modifications oi prema- 
ture history, it was deemed best to make the present 
offering but a conservatory of materials — a depository 
of known facts, of intense interest, and worthy of pre- 
servation. 

Impartial history requires ahiding the time and wait- 
ing for the facts, lest men and their motives should 

(11) 



12 TO THE READER. 

frequently be misjudged, tlieir conduct misunderstood, 
and pi;aise or censure improperly bestowed. 

Like all works of historical character, this has been, 
to a considerable extent, derived from the writings of 
others, and consequently, has but small claim to origi- 
nality — if, indeed, such a condition of mental action as 
exclusive originality of thought be recognized, when it 
is perfectly logical, that to minds exactly similarly 
constituted, and under precisely similar circumstances, 
identical thoughts may be suggested, or, to put the case 
stronger — should be suggested; and, consequently, all 
our thoughts may have been thought ten thousand times 
before. 

In conclusion, it is incumbent on the compiler to 
state, that aside from personal observation and private 
correspondence, he is chiefly indebted for the facts of 
this work to Southern debates, of&cial reports, and the 
army correspondence of the loyal press : and in no 
instance has any published history of the war been 
consulted. When, on comparison of accounts, the facts 
of one have been found correctly stated, in proper 
terms, both the facts and. the language, in some in- 
stances, have been adopted. Under other circumstances, 
modifications, more or less extensive, have prevailed. 
The poems introduced are, unless otherwise credited, 
what the world calls original, at least in composition. 

As the materials for a work of this kind are by no 
means exhausted, and will continue to accumulate as 
long as the war shall last, it is quite probable that a 
second volume may follow should this meet an en- 
couraging reception. Awaiting the decision of an 
intelligent reading public, the present volume is hope- 
fully submitted by the 

Compiler. 



PROLOGOMENA. 



^'The tragedy has now been played, wHch was to 
overthrow the Government of Washington, and Han- 
cock, and Adams, and Jefferson: and let those who 
have sought to aid a crusade so causeless and infernal, 
look upon it and receive instruction. For such imal- 
loyed villany and baseness, I assert that the records of 
depravity and infamy, from the fall of man to the 
present moment, may be ransacked im vain, and those 
who remain among us and merely talvC side politically 
with a wholesale murder, that they are too cowardly to 
help on, with arms in their hands, * ^ ^ will cer- 
tainly occupy an important niche in the world's pillory 
hereafter. ^ ^ ^ * ^ * * 

" The loyal mind is for an out and out, up and down, 
horizontal and diagonal overthrow of the rebellion, 
without any condition or compromise, of any name or 
kind, to the ninth part of a hair ; and while it does not 
want to see the Government go out of its way to look 
after incidents, it will rejoice to see the alleged cause of 
the rebellion fall with it ; that wicked men and devils, 
hereafter, may not be tempted to repeat, in the next 
century, the experiments of this." 

Hon. D. S. Dickinson. 
B (13) 



14 PKOLOGOMENA. 

for a tongue to curse the knave, 
Whose treason, like a deadly blight, 

Comes o'er the councils of the brave, 
And blasts them in their hour of might ! 

May life's unblessed cup for him. 

Be drugged with treacheries to the brim. — Moore. 

When at length the rash and wicked attempt was 
made, had a man of Jacksonian stamp been at the helm 
of State; the rebellion would have been suppressed as 
was that of Calhoun in 1832, the particulars of which 
event must give place to the following poem, by F. D. 
H. Janvier, as more appropriate to this work. 

THE STIGMA. 

It is related that some thirty -two years ago, John C. 
Calhoun, a Senator of the United States from the State 
of South Carolina, and at that time employed in per- 
fecting the great nullification scheme of which he was 
the author, was, one night at a late hour, seated in his 
room alone, and engaged in writing, when falling 
asleep, he had a dream, the incidents of which are 
here woven into verse. 

Between the acting of a dreadful thing 
And the first motion, all the interim is 
Like a phantasma, or a hideous dream. — Shakspeare. 

In a chamber grand and gloomy, in the shadow of the night, 
Two wax tapers flaming faintly, burned with a sepulchral light — 
On an oval oaken table, from their silver stands they shone, 
Where, about them, in disorder, books and manuscripts were 

strewn ; 
Where, before them, sat a Statesman, silent, thoughtful and alone ! 

Suddenly a stranger entered, — entered with a serious air. 
And with steady step advancing, near the table drew a chair ! 



PEOLOGOMEXA. 15 

Folded in an ample mantle, carefully concealed from sight, 
There he sat, and his companion watched him through the waver- 
ing light, 
Wondering at his bold intrusion, unannounced, and in the night ! 

Wondering at his staid demeanor, wondering that no word he 

spoke. 
Wondering that he veiled his visage in the volume of his cloak — 
'Till as though unwilling longer, satisfaction to postpone, 
*' Senator from Carolina," said he in a solemn tone, 
*' What are you engaged in writing, here at midnight and alone ?" 

Then the Statesman answered promptly, " 'Tis a plan which con- 
summates, 
When complete, the dissolution of the Union of the States." 
Whereupon rejoined the stranger, in an accent of command, 
*' Senator from Carolina, let me look at your right hand." 
And the Statesman had no power that calm dictate to withstand. 

Slowly, then, uprose the stranger, and the startled Statesman saw 
From the fallen cloak emerging, one from whom he shrunk with 

awe ! 
Stern and stately stood before him. Freedom's first and favorite 

son — 
He whose patriotic valor universal homage won— 
He who gave the world the Union — the immortal Washington ! 

And he thrilled with strange emotion, in the patriot's steadfast 

gaze. 
As he held the han^ he proffered, held it near the taper's blaze — 
As he thoughtfully proceeded — " Then you would with this right 

hand, 
Senator from Carolina, desolate your native land ; 
You would sign a declaration this fair Union to disband !" 

And the Senator responded: -'Yes, should chance such service 

claim, 
To an Act of Dissolution I would freely sign my name." 
But the words were scarcely spoken, when amazed he saw expand. 
Dim at first, then deeper, darker, an unsightly blackened brand, 
Like a loathsome, leprous plague-spot, on the back of his right 

hand. 



16 PROLOGOMENA. 

"What is that?" he cried with horror, as the dreadful stigma 

spread, 
And the patriot's grasp relaxing, undisturbed he gravely said : 
''That black blotch your hand o'erspreading is the mark by which 

they know 
One who honored by his country, basely sought its overthrow — 
That detested traitor, Arnold, in the dismal world below 1" 

Pausing then he from his mantle drew an object toward the light, 
Placed it on the oaken table, in the shuddering statesman's sight, 
Placed it on the very writing which that traitorous hand had done ; 
Still, and stark, and grim, and ghastly, 'twas a human skeleton I 
There it lay, and then he added, calmly, as he had begun : 

" Here behold the sacred relic of a man who long ago 
Died at Charleston, on a gibbet, murdered by a ruthless foe — 
Isaac Hayne, who fell a martyr, laying down his life with joy, 
To confirm this noble Union, you so wantonly employ 
Powers for virtuous ends intended, treacherously to destroy. 

" When you sign a solemn compact, this blessed bond to disunite. 
Lying here upon your table, you should have his bones in sight. 
He was born in Carolina, so were you, but all in vain ; 
Will you look for treason's stigma, will you seek the slightest staia 
On the hand of that pure patriot, the right hand of Isaac Hayne ?'* 

Saying this, the stranger vanished, but the skeleton remained, 
And the black and blasting stigma, still that traitorous hand re- 
tained ! 
Sinking in their silver sockets, fainter still the tapers gleamed ; 
Suddenly, athwart the chamber, morning's rosy'radiance streamed, 
And the Statesman, wan and weary, wondering woke — for he had 
dreamed ! 

He had dreamed — but pause and ponder, you who would the 

Union rend, — 
Ponder at the bare beginning, on the foul and fatal end. 
Ponder on dark desolation, sweeping through this cherished land,— 
Heavy hearts, forsaken firesides, waste and woe with war's de- 
maud, — 
Ponder on the Traitor's Stigma — pause and look at your right 
hand ! 



PROLOGOMENA. 17 

Gen. Jackson, as President of the United States, in- 
formed Caltioun tliat if lie persisted in his treason, that 
" bj the Eternal, he would hang him high as Haman :" 
and subsequenty regretted that he had not done it. It 
might have deterred Jeff. Davis & Co. 

How striking the contrast between the loyal firmness 
of Jackson, in thus suppressing incipient rebellion, and 
the treacherous imbecility of Buchanan, which gave to 
treason its greatest encouragement. 

On receipt of the news of Major Anderson's removal 
from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, "the Cabinet was 
assembled directly, when Mr. Buchanan, explaining the 
embarrassment of the Secretary of War, remarked that 
'^the act of Major Anderson would occasion exaspera- 
tion in the South ; he had told Mr. Floyd that as the 
government was strong, forbearance toward erring- 
brethren might win them back to their allegiance, and 
that that officer might be ordered back!" After an 
ominous silence the President inquired how the sug- 
gestion struck his Cabinet. Mr. Stanton, then Attorney - 
General, answered ; " That course, Mr. President, ought 
certainly to be regarded as most liberal toward ' erring 
brethren;' but while one member of your Cabinet hag 
fraudulent acceptances for millions of dollars afloat, and 
while the confidential clerk of another — himself in 
Carolina teaching rebellion — has just stolen $900,000 
from the Indian Trust Fund, the experiment of order- 
ing Major Anderson back to Fort Moultrie would be 
dangerous. But if you intend to try it, before it is 
done, I beg that you will accept my resignation." 

" And mine," added the Secretary of State, Mr. Black. 

" And mine, also," said the Postmaster General, Mr. 
Holt. 

2 



18 PROLOGOMEIS^A. 

"And mine, too," followed the Secretary of the 
Treasury, Gen. Dix. 

This of course opened the bleared eyes of the Presi- 
dent, and the meeting resulted in the acceptance of Mr. 
Floyd's resignation." — Thuklow Weed. 

Jefferson Davis, in a speech made in Boston, a few 
years ago, said " there is none so infamous as he who 
should raise his hand against the Union." Albert Pike, 
the reneo-ade Massachusetts school teacher, who led 

o 

a brigade of savages at the battle of Pea Kidge, had 
some time previously thus hymned the unutterable 
wickedness of Disunion, and the remorseless doom of 
traitors : — 

Good God ! what a title — what name 

Will history give to your crime ! 
In the deep abyss of dishonor and shame. 

You will writhe till the last hour of time, 
As braggarts who forged their own chains, 

Pulled down what their brave fathers built. 
And tainted the blood in their children's young veins, 

With the poison of slavery and guilt : 
And Freedom's bright heart be hereafter tenfold, 
For your folly and fall, more dishonored and cold. 

Alexander H. Stephens, the Vice President of the 
bogus Confederacy, in a speech in Milledgeville, De- 
cember, 1860, paid the following eloqu.ent tribute to the 
Government he subsequ.ently sought to overthrow : — 

"That the Government of our fathers, with all its 
defects, comes nearer the objects of all good govern- 
ments than any other on the face of the earth, is my 
settled conviction. - ''^' * * "'^ ^ 

" Where will you go, following the sun in its circuit 



PROLOGOMENA. 19 

round our globe, to find a government that better pro- 
tects the liberties of the people, and secures to them the 
blessings we enjoy ? I think that one of the evils that 
beset us is a surfeit of liberty ; an exuberance of the 
priceless blessings for which we are ungrateful." 

" What right has the North assailed ? What interest 
of the South has been invaded ? What justice has been 
denied? and what claim founded in justice and right 
has been withheld ? * Can either of you to-day name one 
governmental act of wrong, deliberately and purposely 
done by the Government of Washington, of which the 
South has a right to complain? I challenge the 
answer. % ^ % ^ ^ ^ 

" Now for you to attempt to overthrow such a Gov- 
ernment as this, under which we have lived more than 
three-quarters of a century, in which we have gained 
our wealth, our standing as a nation, our domestic 
safety, while the elements of peril are around us, with 
peace and tranqu.ility, accompanied with unbounded 
prosperity, and no rights assailed — is the height of 
madness, folly and wickedness to which I can neither 
lend my sanction nor my vote." 

It would be well, at times, for those who are seeking 
to find, and eager to proclaim excuses for the Southern 
rebellion, to ponder these truthful sayings. Yet alas 
for human frailty ! this same Alexander H. Stephens, 
sinning against light and knowledge, accepted the Vice 
Presidency of the Eebel Confederacy ; thus, lending his 
sanction to that madness, folly and wickedness, against 
which he had so vehemently protested. 

The Rebels hastened to open fire on Sumter, fearing 
the fort would be evacuated, and the opportunity to 



20 PEOLOGOMENA. 

" strike a blow," and precipitate Virginia and the otlier 
border States, lost. Sucli was the commencement of the 
war, and from that moment there was no possibility of 
making peace with the Eebels, save by acknowledging 
their independence. 

As was concisely stated, by Daniel S. Dickinson, in 
one of his speeches, " South Carolina began to scrape 
lint before the Presidential votes were counted ;" and 
yet the Federal Government stands accused by seces- 
sionists with inaugurating the war. 

The supremacy in the Government, which they had 
enjoyed so long, and had so ruthlessly perverted, was 
about to decline. They had seen the handwriting upon 
the wall, and could interpret it without the aid of a 
political Daniel. They knew that 'unless they could 
divide and conquer the free North, or frighten her from 
her propriety, as they had so often done, and extort 
from her some suicidal concessions, their power in the 
Union was about to depart forever. They therefore 
tried the old disunion dodge once more, with great fero- 
city, and it proved for once of no avail. The old bone- 
less-back compromisers with iniquity were many of them 
gone, and truer men to liberty and right were in their 
places. They raved and threatened as madly as ever, 
and, as many supposed, expecting somebody to hold 
them as formerly. But nobody held them, and they 
went too far: they had crossed the Eubicon. Their 
friends of the border States proposed various compro- 
mises, but they were all pseudo, and faithless to right. 
They were altogether unequal. They were but a new 
series of exactions in behalf of the South, demanding 
to be met by impossible and absurd concessions on the 
part of the North. Some of them demanded the right 



PEOLOGOMENA. 21 

of transit and sojourn, witli their slaves, in States whose 
constitutions, aye, wliose laws and public sentiment 
would not tolerate the same in their own citizens for a 
moment; a demand which, if granted, would enable 
Senator Toombs to realize his hope, sooner than he ex- 
pected, of living to see the day when he should call 
over his roll of slaves at the foot of Bunker Hill Monu- 
ment. 

The " Crittenden Eesolutions " were then offered under 
the guise of a mild and pleasant panacea, like those 
sugar-coated pills that children are said to cry for, and 
by those Union-savers, whose motto is " Union for the 
sake of the Union," regardless of principle, the free 
North was denounced as contumacious, and responsible 
for the rupture for not surrendering principle, honor, 
manhood, and right, and taking it at once, and asking 
for more of the same sort! 

But what were they ? An insult to Northern princi- 
ple and sentiment. Compromise, forsooth ! demanding 
of the free North the unholy concession to the South of 
the right to the extension of slavery into and over all 
the vast Governmental domain now owned, or ever to he 
acquired, either by purchase, fraud or plunder; and to 
guarantee its protection and defence there, virtually, /or 
all coming time! And what was the quid pro quo that 
she was to receive for this humiliation? — what conces- 
sion was the South to make in return? — for that is no 
compromise in which there is not something yielded on 
both sides. Hear it! 0, ye of the North I Hear it! O, 
ye of the East! Hear it! O, ye of the West! the South 
was to agree to abide in connection with you during 
your good behavior and her good pleasure, and defer, 
for the present, ruining herself and tearing the Union 



22 PROLOGOMENA. 

into infinitesimal fragments! Astonishing condescen- 
sion 1 

O, East! O, West! 0, Nortli! Why were ye sncli 
stubborn asses as not to receive, at once, the proffered 
bit, and, crouching low, suffer your Southern would-be 
masters, booted and spurred, to mount your super- 
serviceable backs and ride you to the devil? 

* -j(- * -^ ^ ^- ^ * 

But, cui bono? South Carolina had already plunged 
into the turbid cesspool of secession, and others of King 
Cotton's domain had followed ; their drivers (not leaders) 
boldly avowing that were a cOjHe hlanclie given them to 
write their own terms of adhesion to the Union, they 
would decline. They were but executing a long con- 
templated plan. As long as they were in power they 
could afford to stay in the Union, but no longer ; out of 
power, out of the Union. Their practical motto — 

*' Better to reign in hell, than serve in heaven ! " 

Their policy — rule or ruin; their practice — rule and 
ruin! 

That they had long premeditated a disruption of the 
Union, is a matter of u.ndeniable history ; though that 
purpose is quite generally supposed by people of the 
free States, to have originated in recent events. This 
erroneous supposition has arisen from a non-observance 
of the state of public sentiment at the South, especially 
that of South Carolina, as betrayed for several years, 
through their speeches and public prints, which, how- 
ever, it must be admitted, have had but limited circula- 
tion among ordinary readers in the free States. 

Thirteen years ago, at least, without reference to any 
earlier period, hostility to the Federal Government, as 



PEOLOGOMEN'A. 23 

expressed by the leaders of public opiuion in South 
Carolina; Avas as vehement as it was during the year 
immediately preceding the late rebellion, called by them 
secession. It was well known, and by many of them 
had been openly avowed, that they had been engaged 
for years in treasonable designs, founded, as many be- 
lieved, with some show of reason, on an abstract enmity 
to the Union. 

The Charleston GouTier''s report of a debate in the 
Legislature of South Carolina, in 1850, on a proposition 
to convene a "Southern Congress," ostensibly for devis- 
ing measures for the defence of the South, will give the 
reader an insight into the spirit which prevailed in that 
body : 

" Mr. AY. S. Lyles said he would not recapitulate the 
series of wrongs inflicted upon us ; [for the very good 
reason there were nonej the only question he would 
consider was the remedy. The remedy is the union of 
the South, and the formation of a Southern Confederacy, 
The friends of the Southern movement in the other 
States look to the action of South Carolina, and he 
would make the issue in a reasonable time, and the only 
way to do so is by secession. There would be no con- 
cert among the Southern States until a blow is struck. 

"Mr. Sullivan proceeded to discuss the sovereignty 
of the States and the right of secession, and denied the 
right or power of the General Government to coerce 
the State in the case of secession. He thought there 
never would be a union of the South imtil this State 
(South Carolina) strikes the blow and makes the issue. 

" Mr. W.''F. Richardson would not recapitulate the 
evils which had been perpetrated upon the South. 
(Still harping upon my daughter.) Great as they have 



24: PROLOGOMENA. 

been, they are comparatively unimportant, when com- 
pared with the evils to which they would inevitably 
lead. We must not consider what we have home, but 
what we must bear hereafter. There is no remedy for 
these evils in the Government ; we have no alternative 
left us, then, but to cortie out of the Government. 

" Mr. Preston said he was opposed to calling a con- 
vention, because he thought it would impede the action 
of this State (South Carolina) on the questions now 
before the country. He thought it would impede our 
'progress toward disunion. All his objections to a con- 
vention of the people applied only to the proposition to 
call it now. He thought conventions dangerous things, 
except when the necessities of the country absolutely 
demand them. He said he had adopted the course he 
had taken on these weighty matters simply and entirely 
with the view of hastening the dissolution of this Unions 

" Mr. Keitt said he would sustain the bill for elect- 
ing delegates to a Southern Congress, because he 
thought it ivould bring about a more speedy dissolution 
of this TJnionr 

The following extracts from the debates had on the 
passage of the secession ordinance, in the late South 
Carolina convention, sufficiently prove our assertion : 

Mr. Parker. "Mr. President: it appears to me, 
with great deference to the opinions that have been 
expressed, that the public mind is fully made up to the 
great occasion that now awaits us. It is no spasmodic 
effort that has come suddenly upon us, but it has been 
gradually culminating for a long series of years, until at 
last it has come to that point when we may say the matter 
is entirely rights 

Mr. Inglis. "Mr. President: If there is any gen- 



PROLOGOMENA. 25 

tlemen present who wishes to debate this matter, of 
course this body will hear him ; but as to delay for the 
purpose of discussion, I, for one, am opposed to it. As 
my friend (Mr. Parker) has said, most of us have had 
this matter under consideration /or the last twenty years ; 
and I presume we have, by this time, arrived at a 
decision upon the subject." 

Mr. Keitt. "Sir, we are performiug a great act, 
which involves not only the stirring present, but 
embraces the whole great future of ages to come. / 
have been engaged in this movement ever since I entered 
political life. I am content with what has been done 
to-day, and content with what wuU take place to- 
morrow. We have carried the body of this Union to 
its last resting place, and now we Avill drop the flag 
over its grave. After that is done, I am ready to 
adjourn, and leave the remaining ceremonies for to- 
morrow." 

Mr. Khett. " The secession of South Carolina is not 
the event of a day. It is not anything produced hy Mr. 
LincolrHs election, or hy non-execution of the Fugitive 
Slave Law. It has been a matter ivhich has been gather- 
ing head for thirty years. * * -^ Now, in regard to 
the Fugitive Slave Law, / myself doubt its constitution- 
ality, and I doubted it on the floor of the Senate, when 
I was a member of that body. The States, acting in 
their sovereign capacity, should be responsible for the 
rendition of fugitive slaves. That was our best secu- 
rity." 

Thus, it will be seen that it Avas in furtherance of 

this long cherished scheme of South Carolina, that her 

secession convention was held in December, 1860 ; and 

in accordance with the conviction that a blovj must he 
C 



26 PKOLOGOMENA. 

striich before there luould he any concert of action arn.ong 
the Southern States, tliat South Carolina, after trembling 
awhile on the brink of the awful secession gulf; in a 
vain effort to induce Georgia to take the lead, bj her 
treasonable ordinance -of the 20th December, plunged 
headlong, without her leaders being able to agree 
among themselves on any justifiable pretext or cause, 
into irretrievable ruin! And thus the blow was struck! 
The die was cast ! The fatal step was taken ! The 
Eubicon was crossed ! 



SKETCH BOOK OF THE WAR. 



STOEY I. 



OF THE STAR OF THE WEST. 

An impression having been qnite extensively made 
that the first Rebel outrage upon our national flag was the 
reduction of Fort Sumter, and political stump orators, 
impelled by a zeal not according to knowledge, having 
frequently conduced to the rendering of that impression 
more indelible, by heedlessly ignoring the precedent 
historic fact of the outrage upon the steamer "Star of 
the West," a correction of that error seems called for. 

The story of the "Star of the West," though perhaps 
of less thrilling interest than that of Fort Sumter, yet 
is too intimately connected with it to be excluded from 
this work, and its priority, as a matter of history, entitles 
it to precedence. 

Major Anderson, while in the faithful discharge of 
his duties, as commandant of the Charleston forts^ not 
being privy to the truckling compliances, pledges, and 
assurances made by the President, in complaisance to 
avowed treason-plotters, and believing Fort Moultrie 
untenable, in the event of the Rebels seizing Fort Sum- 
ter, of which there were sufficient indications of their 
intention, either found authority in the last orders he 

(27) 



28 THE STAK OF THE WEST. 

had received from tlie "War Department, for sliifting Ms 
little force, of about seventy men, from Moultrie to 
Sumter, or assumed the responsibility of so doing. 
Under the circumstances, liis course would have been 
justifiable, in absence of such orders. Accordingly, on 
the night of the 26th of December, 1860, having spiked 
the guns, burnt the gun-carriages, and destroyed the 
buildings, he abandoned the fort, and transferred the 
garrison and stores over to Fort Sumter, which was a 
much stronger Fort, commanding the harbor, and, to a 
great extent, Fort Moultrie itself. 

The people of Charleston were thereupon thrown into 
great excitement, and Governor Pickens sent one of his 
aids to ascertain by what authority the commandant had 
acted, and to desire his return to Fort Moultrie. 

Major Anderson replied that he had acted on his own 
responsibility, and declined to return. Castle Pinckney 
and Sullivan's Island, as also Fort Moiiltrie, were seized 
on the 27th by order of Governor Pickens. The reve- 
nue cutter William Aiken was also surrendered by her 
commander to the South Carolina authorities. Those 
authorities were very indignant at Major Anderson's 
change of position, and Mr. Buchanan censured him for 
it, while General Scott approved his action by letter, 
proffering to stand by him to the last ; and the House of 
Kepresentatives, on the 7th of January, 1861, passed a 
resolution approving "the bold and patriotic act of 
Major Anderson in withdrawing from Fort Moultrie to 
Fort Sumter." 

It having been decided, by a majority of one, in 
Cabinet Council at AYashington, on the evening of the 
29th of December, not to withdraw Major Anderson's 
force from Fort Sumter, it became necessary to reinforce 



THE STAE OF THE WEST. 29 

it; accordingly; at a Cabinet session, held on tlie 2d of 
January, 1861, tliat measure was determined on, and in 
pursuance of that determination, the " Star of the West," 
an unarmed steamer, was dispatched with a reinforce- 
ment of 200 men. 

The original design was to send the reinforcement by 
the Brooklyn, but on reflection, the days of conciliation 
having not yet passed, the "Star of the AYest" was sub- 
stituted for the purpose of avoiding the appearance of 
a hostile demonstration. 

The " Star of the AVest" left New York at 5 P. M., 
on the 5th of January, 1861, with four officers and 200 
soldiers, with proper equipments, designed to reinforce 
Sumter, and arrived off' Charleston bar at 1 J o'clock A. 
M. on the 9th, and, finding the buoys removed and 
lights out, was obliged to proceed with great caution, 
running slowly, and frequently sounding in quest of the 
main channel, with lights out to prevent being seen. 
After 4 o'clock she was hove to, to await daylight. 

At daybreak the soldiers were all ordered below to 
prevent being seen, and none but the ship's crew 
allowed on deck. As soon as it was light enough to 
see she crossed the bar and proceeded up the channel 
to about two miles from Fort Moultrie — Fort Sumter 
being about the same distance — when a fire was opened 
on her from a masked battery on Morris Island, less 
than a mile distant. 

She continued on, with the national flag displayed, 
under fire of the battery for ten minutes. Fort Moultrie 
also saluting her in the same manner, some of the shot 
passing over her, and others taking effect, till her posi- 
tion becomino* critical from the circumstances that she 

o 

would have to approach within easy range of Fort 



80 THE STAE OF THF WEST. 

Moultrie before she could bear away for Fort Sumter, 
and a supposed armed scbooner was approaching from 
Fort Moultrie, in tow of a steamer, and the " Star of 
the West" being defenceless, her commander. Captain 
McGowan, deemed it proper, in order to avoid certain 
capture or destruction, to reverse her course, and, if 
possible, get to sea. She wore round, and steamed 
down the channel, the battery still firing upon her till 
the shot fell short. She cautiously proceeded, crossed 
the bar at 8 : 50 A. M., and continued on her return 
course to New York, where she arrived on the 12th of 
January. 

Thus it is manifest, from the foregoing account, that 
it was the boom of the Rebel cannon, fired upon the 
"Star of the West," instead of the outrage upon Sum- 
tar, as the stump orators commonly have it, that was 
the death-knell of slavery. 

The authorities at Charleston had been apprised of 
the sailing of the "Star of the West" for Fort Sumter 
by a talegram from Secretary Thompson, at Washing- 
ton; in fact, there was but very -little transpired at 
Washington, that could be of any interest to the Rebels, 
that they were not immediately apprized of. In truth, 
not only Senators and Representatives, but high Gov- 
ernment officials, were in complicity with them. 

The Government ■ dispatches to Major Anderson had 
been intercepted by the rebels, so that he was ignorant 
of the approach of reinforcements, and of the character 
of the "Star of the West," if not also of the secession 
of South Carolina. He only knew that the steamer 
which had been attacked carried the United States flasr, 
and supposed the assault some unauthorized mistake 
\\']iich would be disapproved and corrected by the proper 



TKEASON OF GENEEAL TWIGGS. 31 

authorities. His communication to Governor Pickens 
explained why lie did not open fire on the assailants. 

In that letter, he said to the Governor, " Two of your 
batteries fired, this morning, upon an unarmed vessel 
bearing the flag of my Government. As I have not 
been notified that war has been declared by South Caro- 
lina against the Government of the United States, I 
cannot but think that this hostile act was committed 
without your sanction or authority. Under that hope, 
and that alone, did I refrain from opening fire upon 
your batteries." 

In reply, the Governor informed him that his letter 
had been received, and that "certain statements in it 
very plainly showed that he, (the Major), had not been 
fully informed, by his Government, of the precise rela- 
tions which then existed between it and the State of 
South Carolina; that the political connection formerly 
existing between them had ceased ; that the Government 
of the late United States had been ofiicially notified of 
that fact," and though it still retained possession of Fort 
Sumter, he plainly intimated that it had been obtained 
dishonorably. 



STOEY II. 



TREASON OF GENERAL TWIGGS. 

The annexation of Texas had cost the United States, 
through the Mexican war, a hundred millions of dollars, 
beside many valuable lives. In addition to all that, the 
Government undertook to pay the debts of Texas, 
amounting to some ten millions more. All the indem- 



32 TEEAOON OF GENERAL TWIGGS. 

nity the Government had, for so vast an outlay, was, 
that tlie public lands of Texas were ceded to it. Being 
thus out of debt and in the Union, with an enlarged 
boundary, acquired by the United States' arms, she 
caught the secession fever, claiming that by secession 
she would re-acquire all the domain she had formerly 
ceded to the United States. General Houston resisted 
to the last the call for a convention, and yielded only, 
when it was clear that it would be called without his 
authority, if he would not concur. The convention met 
on the first day of February, 1861, and passed a seces- 
sion ordinance with but little opposition. 

General Twiggs, who had been in command of the 
Texas department for several years, was suspected of 
disaffection to the Government; and Colonel Waite, 
who was then at Camp Yerde, in Texas, was ordered to 
relieve General Twiggs of his command, immediately 
on his arrival at San Antonia. Before his arrival, how- 
ever. General Twiggs, who it appears had been treating 
for the purpose with the" secessionists as early as the 7th 
of February, surrendered, on the 18th, all the Govern- 
ment property and troops in his command to Texas, 
comprising nearly one-fourth of the Avhole effective 
military force of the United States, at that time. Thus, 
by a perfidy that might well astonish the nation, was an 
army of 3,000 men and 121 officers, composing a regi- 
ment of cavalry, thirty -three companies of infantry, and 
five companies of artillery, stationed in thirteen forts 
and ten camps, fully provisioned and equipped, together 
with 35,000 stands of arms, 26 pieces of mounted artil- 
lery and 44 pieces unmounted, 1,800 mules, 950 horses, 
500 wagons, 500 sets harness, $250,000 in tools, wagon 
materials, nails, iron and horse-shoes, $7,000 in corn, 



TKEASOX OF GENEEAL TWIGGS. 33 

$75;000 in commissary stores, $150,000 in clothing, 
$400,000 in ordnance stores, and $55,000 Government 
funds, worth in the aggregate from two to three millions 
of dollars ; all turned over to insurgents and Eebels, to 
be used against the Government (except the men), and 
all, including the glorious flag of our Union, surrendered 
without a shot being fired. By the perfidious surrender 
of that important department, the Government lost and 
the Eebel cause gained advantages, naval, military and 
commercial, beyond the power of money to estimate, or 
of language to express. 

The officers and men were not surrendered as prison- 
ers of war, for the very good reason that there was no 
war : the object being to get them out of the State, that 
the State might be forced out of the Union, while the 
Government would be powerless to prevent it. It was, 
therefore, stipulated by the joint commission of Twiggs* 
and the rebels, that the officers and men, who were 
mostly stationed at and around San Antonia, and on the 
line of the Kio Grande, should be marched to the coast 
unmolested, with their side arms, and thence shipped 
to the North; but hundreds of them, on nearing the 
coast, were captured as prisoners of war, disarmed and 
discharged on parole. Why Colonel Waite, (who, by 
order of Government, superseded Twiggs on the 19th, 
being the next day after the stipulated treason,) carried 
out that stupendous iniquity on his arrival, instead of 
countermanding it, when as yet nothing had been given 
up and no movement made, is another cause for aston- 
ishment, not satisfactorily explained. All the opposing 
force was Ben McCulloch's five or six hundred mounted 

* Major Yintoii, Major Macklin, and Captain Whitely, on the 
part of Twiggs. 

3 



34 LIEUT. SLEMMEE SAVES FORT PICKENS. 

ragamuffin rangers — a force not at all adequate to the 
enforcement of the treachery of Gen. Twiggs. The pre- 
tence that "they were betrayed into the hands of the 
enemy/' has but little plausibility, unless it be admitted 
that there was a general conspiracy among the officers 
for that purpose. 

This was a heavier dose of treason than Mr. Buch- 
anan's non- coercion philosophy could ignore, or bear, 
without making some sign. He had hoped to be able 
to pass the few remaining days of his official term in 
letting things in general fortuitously slide, and things 
in particular go with the general drift. But this was a 
case of such flagitious enormity, that something must be 
done. Not merely the horse, but the whole caravan 
was stolen. As it was too late to lock the stable-door, 
and the thief, if not non est inventus, was probably non 
est come-at-ihus, the thing remaining to be done was to 
give him a bad name. So, thereupon, on the 1st day 
of March, 1861, by orders emanating from the War 
Department, "Brigadier-General David E. Twiggs was 
dismissed from the army of the United States, for 
treachery to the flag of his country." 



STORY III. 



LIEUTENANT SLEMMER SAVES FORT PICKENS. 

On the 12th of January, 1861, Commodore Arm- 
strong, being in command at the Pensacola Navy Yard, 
basely surrendered it, without resistance, to the demand 
of Major Chase (in behalf of Florida), who also seized 



LIEUT. SLEMMER SAVES FORT PICKENS. 35 

Fort Barrancas, and a large amount of cannon, shells, 
powder, coal, &c. 

Ttie intention of the Eebels was to have seized Fort 
Pickens also, but Lieutenant Slemmer, who had been 
in command of Fort McRae, aware of their purpose, 
adopted the same course that Major Anderson had done 
at Charleston by abandoning Fort McRae and occupy- 
ing Fort Pickens, two days previously; much to the 
chagrin of the Rebels, as it commanded the Kavy Yard 
and Fort McRae also ; besides being a stronger work, 
and mounting 240 guns, while Fort McRae had but 
161. Failing in their designs on Fort Pickens, the 
Rebels immediately seized this latter fort. 

Though with a force of but 80 men, Lieutenant Slem- 
mer was now secure from any attack ; and might have 
destroyed the Navy Yard, yet he forbore, and carefully 
avoided collision, acting strictly on the defensive, in 
conformity to the orders of an imbecile Executive, 
whose anxious purpose evidently was, at whatever ex- 
pense of fidelity and duty, to defer the bursting of the 
impending storm, till the advent of the in-coming ad- 
ministration. 

Commodore Armstrong's excuse for his dereliction, 
was, that three-fourths of the 60 officers and men in his 
command were secessionists, and would have revolted, 
had he attempted resistance to the demand of Major 
Chase, who had over 400 himdred men. But the 
Commodore did not put his men to the test. It was 
more in accordance with, his secession proclivities to 
speak for them. He did so; but who knows how 
truthfully? It certainly would not have been difficult 
for him to have influenced them to be true to the flag 



36 THE INAUGURATION. 

under whicli tliey liacl enlisted, and wliicli they had 
sworn to defend. They had no interest in slavery, nor 
in any other secession object. But that was not his 
wish. 



THE INAUGUEATION. 



President Lincoln's Inauguration took place on the 
4th day of March, 1861, at the Capitol in the city of 
Washington, according to law and established usage. 
The day, after an inclement morning, became favorable. 
The loyal multitude of spectators was immense. The 
hireling assassins, awed by the military, kept at a 
respectful distance, or feared to make any treacherous 
demonstration. 

The President elect appeared, and in full view of the 
vast audience, took the oath of office, and read his 
inaugural address, which occupied about one hour, and 
gave very general satisfaction. 

Though grave apprehensions for the President's safety 
had pervaded the minds of his numerous friends, yet the 
day and the ceremony passed off without any occur- 
rence to darken the one or mar the other. 

The President, in conclusion, retired to the White 
House, and received numerous friends there presented : 
on which occasion the following lines were presented to 
him, by the author, with a request that he would read 
them at his leisure, and hand them to Mrs. Lincoln, to 
which he assented : — 



BOMBAEDMENT OF FORT SUMTER. 37 

Awake ! arise ! thou mighty chief; and gird thine armor on ! 
Base Treason raves, while Justice sleeps, with sword as yet un- 
Resolve, and firmly dare to do, — and execute the laws, [drawn! 
And millions wait to back thy hand, in Freedom's injured cause ! 
Heaven hath no attribute that can with traitors coincide ; 
And retribution will not sleep for aye, nor long abide : — 
Men may not Freedom's fame subvert, in recklessness and pride. 

Long life to him — the people's choice, may God his heart incline 
In Wisdom's ways of Perfectness, and Truth, and Right divine ; 
Nor traitor's schemes, nor madmen's deeds, his equal rule impair ; 
Corruption's miscreants all avaunt, nor e'er his presence dare ! 
may prosperity and peace, disperse all wants and pains ! 
Life, liberty, and joy increase, and fire the poet's strains ! 
Nor vile Secession hold its head, while Lincoln holds the reins ! 



STORY IV 



BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER. 

On receipt of tlie notice from Washington of the 
purpose of the Government to provision Sumter — 
peaceably if it could, forcibly if it must — General Beau- 
regard telegraphed the purport to Montgomery, and 
received in reply from Secretary Walker, on the 10th 
of April, an order to demand at once the evacuation of 
the fort, and, in case of refusal, to proceed to reduce it. 
The demand was not made, however, till two o'clock, 
P. M., of the 11th, when time was allowed Major Ander- 
son till six o'clock to answer. Major Anderson replied 
that " his sense of honor and his obligations to his 
Government prevented his compliance." 

At one o'clock on the morning of the 12th, Major 



88 BOMBAEDMENT OF FORT SUMTER. 

Anderson received anotlaer communication from Beau- 
regard, stating that, as he understood the garrison was 
short of provisions and wonld soon have to evacuate, he 
wished him to set a day when he would do so. Major 
Anderson, on consultation with his officers, replied, 
"Provided Fort Sumter or the flag it bore was not 
fired on, he would be obliged to evacuate by Monday, 
the 15th." But it did not suit the purpose of the Eebels 
to wait. They had made great preparations to bombard 
the fort ; " a blow must be struck to fire the Southern 
heart," as Pryor had said ; and they were too eager for 
the fray, not to prefer force to evacuation. After a few 
moments consideration, Beauregard's depu.ties informed 
Major Anderson that the batteries would open their fires 
in one hour. Thereupon, they immediately left the fort, 
it being then 3 : 30 A. M., and in one hour, it com- 
menced. 

After the deputation had left, the sentinels were 
immediately removed from the parapets of the fort, the 
posterns closed, the flag drawn up, and the troops 
ordered not to leave the bomb-proofs, on any account, 
till summoned by the drum. 

At 4 : 30 A. M., one bomb-shell was thrown, bursting 
directly over the fort. After a short pause, the firing 
became general on the part of the Eebel batteries, doing 
the greatest credit to the artillerists. The command did 
not return a single shot until the men had their break- 
fasts. As the number of men was small, and the garri- 
son so nearly exhausted by the several months siege 
they had endured, it was necessary to husband their 
strength ; the command was therefore divided into three 
relief, or equal parties, who were to work the different 
batteries by turns, each four hours. 



BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER. 39 

The first relief opened upon tlie iron batteries at 
Gumming s Pointy at a distance of 1,600 yards; tlie 
iron floating battery, distant 1,800 or 2,000 yards, at 
the end of Sullivan's Island ; the enfilading battery on 
Sullivan's Island, and Fort Moultrie. This was at 
7 o'clock A. M., Captain Doubleday firing the first gun ; 
all the points named being opened upon simultaneously. 
For the first four hours, the firing was kept up with 
great rapidity ; the enthusiasm of the men, indeed, was 
so great, that the second and third reliefs could not be 
kept from the guns. 

Shells burst with the greatest rapidity, in every 
portion of the work, hurling the loose brick and stone 
in all directions, breakinor the windows and setting;; fire 
to whatever wood-work they burst against. The solid 
shot firing of the enemy's batteries — particularly Fort 
Moultrie — was directed at the barbette guns of Sumter, 
disabling four and tearing away a large portion of the 
parapet. 

The explosion of shells, and the quantity of deadly 
missiles that were hurled in every direction, constantly, 
rendered it almost certain death to go out of the lower 
tier of casements; and also made the working of the 
barbette, or upper, uncovered guns, which contained all 
the heaviest metals, and by which' alone shells could be 
thrown, quite impossible. During the first clay there 
was hardly an instant of time that there was a cessation 
of the whizzing of balls, which were sometimes coming 
half a dozen at once. Before dinner, several vessels of 
the fleet, beyond the bar, were seen through the port- 
holes ; they dipped their flags, but it was impracticable 
to pass the bar; Sumter's flag was dipped in return, 
while the shells were bursting in every direction. ' 



40 BOMBAEDMENT OF FORT SUMTER. 

About noon the cartridges were exliansted, and a 
party was sent to the magazine to make more out of 
blankets and sbirts, tlie sleeves of the latter readily 
answering tbe purpose. The great misfortune was, 
nothing for weighing powder. 

When it became so dark as to render it impossible 
to see the effect of their shot, the port-holes were closed 
for the night; while the Eebels continued to fire all 
night. 

During Friday, seventeen mortars, firing ten-inch 
shell, and thirty-three heavy guns, mostly columbiads, 
were engaged in the assault. The iron battery was of 
immense strength, and most of our shot struck and 
glanced off. We succeeded in dismounting two of the 
guns on Cummings' Point battery : but the full effect of 
our firing could not be ascertained. 

During the day the officers' barracks were three times 
set on fire by the shells, and three times put out, under 
the most destructive firing. 

The firing of the rifled guns from the iron battery 
on Cummings' Point, became very accurate on Friday 
afternoon: cutting out large quantities of masonry 
about the embrasures at every shot, throwing concrete 
among ^the cannoniers, slightly wounding some, and 
stunning others. One piece struck Sergeant Kearnan 
on the head and knocked him down. On reviving and 
being asked if he was badly hurt, he replied : " No ; I 
was only knocked down temporarily;" and went to 
work again. 

Meals Vv'ere served at the guns of the cannoniers, 
while the guns were being pointed and fired. 

For the fourth time, the barracks were set on fire, 
early, on Saturday morning, and attempts were made to 



BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER. 41 

pnt out the fire ; but, on account of the rapidity with 
which hot shot were being thrown into the fort, it was 
found impossible to check the conflagration. 

As many of the garrison as could be spared were set 
to Avork to remove the powder from the magazines. 
This was desperate work, as they had to roll the barrels 
of powder through the fire. Ninety barrels were thus 
got out, when the heat became so great as to make it 
impossible to get out any more. 

The doors were then clpsed and locked, and the fire 
spread and became general. The wind so directed the 
smoke as to fill the fort so full that the men could not 
see each other, and w^ere nearly suffocated with hot air. 
Soon they were obliged to cover their faces with wet 
cloths, in order to get along at all, so dense was the 
smoke and so scorching the heat. 

After the barracks were well on fire, the Rebel 
batteries increased the rapidity of their cannonading 
upon Fort Sumter. About this time, the shells and 
ammunition in the upper service magazines exploded, 
scattering the towers and upper portions of the building 
in every direction. 

The crash of the beams, the roar of the flames, the 
rapid explosion of the shells, and the shower of frag- 
ments of the fort, with the blackness of the smoke, made 
the scene indescribably terrific and grand. 

This continued for several hours. Meanwhile, the 
main gates were burned down, the chassis of the bar- 
bette guns w^ere burned away on the gorge, and the 
upper portions of the towers had been demolished by 
shells. 

The fire spread to the men's quarters, on the right 
hand and on the left, and endangered the powder which 



42 BOMBAEDMENT OF FOKT SUMTER. 

had been taken out of tlie magazines. The men went 
through the fire and covered the barrels with wet 
cloths ; but the danger of the fort's blowing up became 
so imminent, that they were obliged to throw the barrels 
out through the embrasures. All but four barrels 
were thus disposed of, and those four remaining were 
wrapped in wet blankets. But three cartridges were 
left, and those were in the guns. While this was being 
done, all the guns of Moultrie and the batteries were 
worked with increased vigor. 

The flag- staff of Fort Sumter was now shot down, 
some fifty feet from the truck, being the ninth time it 
had been struck by shot. The men cried out "The 
flag is down ! it has been shot away ! " and in an instant 
Lieutenant Hall rushed forward and brought the flag 
away. . It was then nailed to the staff and planted upon 
the ramparts, while batteries in every direction were 
playing upon them. 

Ex-Senator Wigfall now appeared at an embrasure, 
with a white handkerchief upon the end of a sword, and 
begged admittance. He asked to see Major Anderson, 
and was told that he was at the main gate; but he 
crawled in through the embrasure, paying no attention 
to what had been told him. 

He was met by Captain Foster, Lieutenant Mead and 
Lieutenant Davis, to whom he said: "I wish to see 
Major Anderson. I am General Wigfall, and come 
from General Beauregard ;" adding in an excited man- 
ner, " Let us stop this firing. You are on fire and jowr 
flag is down. Let us quit." 

Lieutenant Davis replied : " No, sir, our flag is not 
down. Step out here and you will see it waving over 
the ramparts." 



BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER. 43 

"Let US quit this," said Wigfall. "Here's a wliite 
flag; will anybody wave it out of the embrasure?" 

One of tlie officers replied : " That is for you to do, 
if you choose." 

Wigfall responded : " If there is no one else to do it, 
I will;" and jumping into the embrasure, waved it 
toward Moultrie. 

The firing still continued from Moultrie and the 
batteries of Sullivan's Island, In answer to Wigfall's 
request that one of our men might hold the flag. 
Corporal Binghurst jumped into the embrasure: but, 
the shot continuing to strike all around him, after 
waving the flag a few moments,, he jumped down again, 
saying : "Damn it, they don't respect this flag ; they are 
firing at it." 

Wigfall replied: "They fired at me two or three 
times, and I should think that you might stand it 
once." 

Wigfall then said : " If you will show a wliite flag 
from your ramparts, they will cease firing." 

Lieutenant Davis replied : " If jou. request that a flag- 
shall be shoAvn there, while you hold a conference with 
Major Anderson, and for that purpose only, it may be 
done." 

At this point, the Major came up. Wigfall said: "I 
am General Wiorfall, and come from General Beaure- 
gard, who wishes to stop this." 

Major Anderson replied : " Well, sir ?" 

"Major Anderson," said Wigfall, "you have defended 
your flag nobly, sir. You have done all that it was 
possible for men to do ; and General Beauregard wishes 
to stop the fight. On what terms, Major Anderson, 
vvill yuu evacuate this fort?" 



44 BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER. 

Major Anderson replied : " General Beauregard 
knows my only terms." 

" Do I understand that you will evacuate upon the 
terms proposed the other day?" 

"Yes, sir, and on those conditions only;" was the 
reply of the Major. 

"Then, sir," said Wigfall, "I understand, Major, that 
the fort is to be ours?" 

" On those conditions only, I repeat." 

" Very well," said Wigfall, and retired. 

Shortly after his departure, the Staff* of General 
Beauregard approached the fort with a white flag, 
saying that they came from General Beauregard, who 
had observed that the flag had been down and raised 
again soon afterward, and had sent over, desiring to 
know if he could render any assistance, as he had 
observed that the fort was on fire. 

Major Anderson, in replying, requested them to 
thank General Beauref^ard, on his behalf, for his offer, 
but it was too late, as he had just agreed with General 
Beauregard for an evacuation. The gentlemen were 
surprised, and asked with whom? Major Anderson, 
observing that something was wrong, remarked that 
General Wigfall, who had just left, had represented 
himself as the aid of General Beauregard, and that he 
had come to make the proposition. They replied that 
Wigfall had not been with General Beauregard for 
two days. Major Anderson then stated that General 
Wigfall's offer, and its acceptance, had placed him in a 
peculiar position. They then requested him to put in 
writing what Wigfall had said to him, and they would 
lay it before Beauregard. 

Before this reached Beauregard, he sent his Adjutant- 



SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND MEN CALLED FOR. 45 

General to say tliat the terms had been accepted, and 
that he would send the Isabel, or any other vessel at 
his command, to convey Major Anderson and the 
troops to any port in the United States that he might 
elect. 

The evacuation took place on Sunday afternoon, 
April 14th, after the burial, with military honors, of 
private Hough, who had been killed by the bursting of 
a gun. 

It was a painful sight to all, to see the stars and 
stripes finally hauled down ; but we felt that we had 
done our duty and must submit. The fort was not 
surrendered, but evacuated, almost on our own terms, 
with colors flying and drums beating, bringing away 
company and private property, and saluting our flag 
Avith fifty guns. 

Major Anderson and his brave band shipped on 
board the Baltic, Captain Fletcher, for New York, 
where they arrived on the Thursday following. Thus 
ended the second act in the Great Eebellion Drama. 

star-spangled banner, the flag of our pride ! 
Though tempted by traitors, and basely defied, 
Fling out to the glad winds your red, white and blue, 
For the heart of the North-laud is beating for you ! 



SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND MEN CALLED FOR. 



The news of the bombardment and fall of Sumter, 
occasioned intense excitement and indig^nation throuo^h- 
out the Free States. The echoes of the cannon fired at 
Sumter had barely reached the hills and valleys of the 



46 SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND MEN CALLED FOR. 

miglity West, ere they were drowned in tlie shouts of 
indignant freemen, demanding to be led against the 
traitors, who, having plotted to divide and destroy the 
country, had commenced, without provocation, the fra- 
tracidal war: the vast North and the populous East 
reverberated the shout, and the great, united heart pul- 
sated with one intense fire of indignation^ demanding 
retribution. 

Party lines were obliterated — party ties hushed — men 
forgetting that they were Democrats or Eepublicans, in 
the newly aroused anxiousness that they were Ameri- 
cans. Seeing their country — their Government — their 
Capitol threatened and endangered by traitors, all baser 
passions were subdued, and amor patria ruled supreme. 

There could be no use in looking away from the fact. 
Civil war was upon the country and must be met. The 
American people must demonstrate that they still had 
a Government, and that there was a difference between 
freedom and anarchy. 

President Lincoln issued his Proclamation on the 
fifteenth day of April, setting forth the fact, "that 
the laws of the United States had been for some time, 
and then were opposed; and the execution obstructed in 
the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, 
Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, by combinations too 
powerful to be suppressed, by the ordinary course of 
judicial proceedings, or by the poAver vested in the 
Marshals by law;" and "calling forth the militia of the 
several States of the Union to the aggregate number of 
seventy-five thousand, in order to suppress said com- 
binations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed." 

The Free States responded enthusiastically to the 
President's call for men ; but the Governors of the bor- 



SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND MEN CALLED FOR. 47 

cler Slave States, generally, treated tlie requisition with 
contumacious refusal of compliance. 

Promptly respondent to the call, 
Instanter move the Free States all. 

The border States the call defy, 
With rude and insolent reply. 

Yet still there is no lack of men, 
From hill and valley, glade and glen. 

Seventy-five thousand men were called, 
And thrice that number are enrolled. 

Still the shrill fife and spirit-stirring drum 
Proclaim the tramping legions come. 

The capitol must never be 
Despoiled by the base rebelry. 

Forbid it Justice ! strike the blow ! 
And lay the Rebel rascals low ! 

From Maine to tlie Lakes, from Pittsburg to St. 
Louis, from Cleveland to Cincinnati, every where, the 
starry flag in its proud imdulations greeted the glad 
eyes of patriotic beholders; and the all-absorbing, pre- 
dominant business was preparation to march beneath 
its folds. 

From prairie, O plowman, speed boldly away ! 

There's seed to be sown in God's furrows to-day ! 

Row landward, lone fisher ! stout woodman come home ! 

Let smith leave his anvil, and weaver his loom, 

And hamlet and city ring loud with the cry, 

" For God and our country we'll fight till we die !" 

Livincible banner ! the flag of the free ! 

0, where treads the foot that would falter for thee ? 

Or the hands to be folded till triumph is won, 

And the eagle looks proud, as of old, to the sun ? 

Edna Dean Proctor. 



48 • SKETCH OF GENEEAL LYON. 



SKETCH OF GENERAL LYON. 



Geneeal Kathaniel Lyon, of Connecticnt; was 
eleventli in tlae West Point class of 1841, wliich num- 
bered fifty-two. He was brevettecl for gallantry at tlie 
battles of Contreras and Ciierubnsco. He was wounded 
in the attack on Belen Gate, city of Mexico. 

The following brief sketch of General Lyon is from 
a description written by a Lieutenant of an Iowa regi- 
ment on duty in Missouri in 1861 : 

" General Lyon is a man of thirty-five or forty years, 
some five feet eight inches high, and weighs, perhaps, 
one hundred and forty to fifty pounds. He is wiry in 
build and tough-looking in appearance. His hair is 
long and thick, his whiskers bushy and heavy — both 
are indescribably sandy in hue. His eyes are his most 
remarkable feature — either blue or grey, perhaps at 
times both; a sort of stormy expression dwells con- 
stantly in them, which is heightened by the wave-like 
wrinkles around them. * * * jjis forehead is 
high, and of even width, giving him, when uncovered, 
the appearance of great intellectual force, which is 
aided by the firm outlines of his mouth. He smiles 
little or none; is a strict disciplinarian; has the full 
confidence of his men, among whorn or at least among 
the regulars, he is known as ^ Daddy.' He is the sort 
of man that one will stop to take a good look at as he 
passes. I don't think he has any thing . like physical 
fear. He is all through a soldier, and will make his 
mark high in the military world." 



CAPTUEE OF CAMP JACKSON BY LYON. 49 



STOKY V. 



CAPTURE OF CAMP JACKSON, (ST. LOUIS,) BY LYON. 

A COUP DE GUERRE. 

As a preparatory measure for carrying Missouri out 
of the Union, Governor Jackson called out the State 
Militia, ostensibly for instruction. A considerable body 
of them, composed chiefly of rabid Secessionists, occu- 
pied a regular encampment near St. Louis. They did 
not hesitate to avow their hostility to the Government, 
treated the President's order to disperse with defiant 
contempt, and their purpose of seizing the St. Louis 
Arsenal was too evident to admit of a doubt. 

Governor Jackson had arranged with the Southern 
Confederates for a supply of war munitions, and a 
steamboat, bearing the secession flag, arrived with a 
large amount of cannon, bombs, balls, rifles, muskets, 
powder, &c., which were taken to Camp Jackson, as the 
Eebel camp was called. 

The main avenues of this camp were marked with 
the names of Davis and Beauregard ; and the occupants 
openly wore the dress and badge distinguishing the 
army of the Southern Confederacy. The seizure of the 
Arsenal was part of the Secession programme, i^er se; 
the successful accomplishment of which would proba- 
bly have resulted in the forcible Secession of the State. 
The first move in the seceding States had invariably 
been to seize the Government arms and other property. 

To prevent this, and for general security against 
Secession outrages, and in answer to the President's 
E 4 



50 CAPTUKE OF CAMP JACKSON BY LYON. 

requisition, four regiments of volunteers were organized 
at St. Louis. 

General Harnej, who had been in command at St. 
Louis, having been ordered to Washington, Captain 
Lyon, of the 2d United States Infantry, succeeded to 
the command. 

From the formidable preparations and threatening 
attitude of Camp Jackson, Captain Lyon did not esteem 
it prudent to wait, as had been the practice of others^ 
for the overt o.ct. He preferred the initiative. 

On the 10th of May, 1861, with the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 
4th Regiments of Volunteers, under Colonels Blair, 
Boernstein, Sigel, and Shuttner, and the 3d and 4th 
Regiments United States Reserve Corps, under Colonels 
McNeil and Brown, he marched, in double quick time, 
up Market street, and on arriving at Camp Jackson, 
rapidly surrounded it, planting batteries on all the 
heights overlooking the camp, and posting picket 
guards, with orders to let no one pass the lines. 

Captain Lyon then sent a note to General Frost, 
commandant of camp Jackson, informing him that his 
command was regarded as evidently hostile to the 
United States, and demanding^ the surrender of the 
same; intimating, at the same time his ability to en- 
force the demand, and allowing the general half an 
hour's time for compliance. Within the time specified. 
General Frost sent a note to Captain Lyon, announcing 
his compliance with the demand. 

Thereupon, the surrender having been made, the 
rebel brigade was formed in column, preparatory to 
marching as prisoners under escort of the Arsenal 
troops. In the meantime an immense crowd of people 
had assembled in the vicinity ; some from motives of 



CAPTLTIE OF CAMP JACKSON BY LYON. 51 

curiosity, others having seized rifles, shot-guns, or 
whatever weapons they could lay their hands upon, 
rushed to the assistance of the State troops, as the 
Secessionists called themselves, but on arriving, found 
their designs impracticable. 

The column marched through the wood to an open- 
ing made in the fence adjoining the turnpike; General 
Frost and his staff at the head of the column on horse- 
back, the United States troops enclosing them by a 
single file on each side, with colors flying and drums 
beating. Colonel Blair leading the column. 

Having entered upon the road a halt was ordered, 
when a large crowd of excited citizens drew near and 
cheered the Secession officers and grossly insulted and 
abused the guards, especially the German troops, till at 
length, forbearance ceasing to be a virtue, several sharp 
reports of fire-arms were heard at the head of the 
column, and the spectators, who lined the adjacent hill, 
alarmed for their safet}?-, precitately fled. 

Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the soldiers who 
had fired were placed under arrest. Tranquillity had 
scarcely been restored when a succession of rifle re- 
ports Avere heard in the rear of the column ; and men, 
tuomen, and cliildren, strange to say, whose curiosity or 
disloyalty had surpassed their prudence, were seen 
running frantically from the scene. 

Many, of various ages and different sexes were shot 
down ; the sufferers being, as usual in such cases, mostly 
innocent persons. Twenty -two were killed and a great 
number wounded. Of the latter class were several Ger- 
man soldiers; several shots having been returned by 
the mob, and some, even, were fired at the troops 
before thev commenced firino- One man discharged 



52 OUR BROTHER. 

three barrels of a revolver at Lieutenant Faxon, and was 
thrust through with a bayonet. The mob had treated 
them with the most vehement defiance and vitupera- 
tion; and their efforts to press back the excited crowd, 
by presenting bayonets, served only to increase their 
frenzied exasperation. 

The prisoners, being about eight hundred in number, 
(many being absent in the city,) were marched to the 
Arsenal, after which, they were tendered a release on 
parole, provided that they would take an oath not to 
take lip arms against the United States Government; 
this they at first declined to do ; but subsequently^ 
with but few exceptions, they complied and were re- 
leased. 



OUE BKOTHEK, 



Call him not " brother," whose unhallowed hand 

Hacks down the roof-tree of our common home f 
Call hmi not " brother," who, with sword and brandy 

Lays waste the heritage of our fatherland ! 
Call him not " brother," who, 'mid cannon's boom. 
Beats down old landmarks, shrouds in endless gloom 

The hapless ones his greed hath barred and banned I 
He is a Cain ! Cainlike must be his doom. 
The prodigal, repentant, may return ! 

Repentant ? Yes ! Recusant, never ! No I 
The renegade from freedom all men spurn. 

Who strikes for slavery makes the world his foe : 
Who draws the sword, shall by the sword be slain : 
And whoso ' raises Cain,' must reap the hurricane." — Anon. 



Though lately drifting on the reef, 
Our gallant ship and faithless chief, 
She now the helm begins to feel, 
There's a new pilot at the wheel. 



DEATH OF COLONEL ELLSWORTH. 63 



STOEY VI. 



DEATH OF COLONEL ELLSWORTH. 

■ On the morning of the 24th of May, 1861, General 
Scott moved 13,000 troops across the Potomac to Alex- 
andria and Arlington Heights, under the immediate 
commands of Major-Generals Mansfield and Sandford. 

Colonel Ellsworth's regiment of Zouaves constituted 
a part of the force, and, embarking on steamers at the 
navy yard, reached the wharf at Alexandria about five 
o'clock A. M. Though several shots were fired at the 
boats (by Secessionists) as- they came to the wharf, yet 
the men landed in good order, in double quick time, 
forming on the street by companies, facing the river. 

After detailing Company E, Captain Leveridge, to 
destroy the railroad track leading to Eichmond, Colonel 
EllsAVorth directed the Adjutant to form the regiment, 
and then, with his aid, Lieutenant Winser, and a file of 
men, proceeded, in double quick time, up the street for 
the telegraph ofi&ce for the purpose of cutting the wires. 

Having proceeded for the space of three blocks, 
Colonel Ellsworth's attention was attracted by a large 
Secession flag flying from the roof of the Marshall 
House, kept by J. W. Jackson. He entered the hotel, 
and inquired of a man there, " Who put that flag up ? " 
The man answered, "I don't know; I'm a boarder 
here." , 

Colonel Ellsworth, Lieutenant Winser, the Chaplain 
of the regiment, Mr. House, a volunteer aid, and the 
four privates, went up to the roof, and Colonel Ells- 
worth cut down the obnoxious flag. As the party were 



54 DEATH OF COLONEL ELLSWORTH. 

returning do\vn tlie stairs, Francis E. Brownell, a pri- 
vate of Company A, being foremost, they met the man 
in the hall who had said he was a boarder, but who 
proved to be the landlord, Jackson, having a double- 
barrel gun, which he levelled at Brownell. Brownell 
struck up the gun with his musket, and Jackson at the 
same instant pulling both triggers of the gun, lodged 
the contents of both barrels in the body of Colonel 
Ellsworth, who was descending next to Brownell. 

Colonel Ellsworth, who was at the time rolling up the 
flag, received the fatal charge between the second and 
third ribs, and immediately fell forward upon the hall 
floor, and exclaiming "my God," instantly expired. 

Brownell instantly levelled his musket at Jackson's 
head and fired. The ball struck on the bridge of his 
nose, and, crashing through his skull, killing him on 
the spot. As he fell forward, Brownell followed the 
shot by a bayonet thrust through his body, pinning 
him to the floor. Jackson's wife, hearing the reports 
of the guns, entered the hall, and, perceiving her hus- 
band's dead body, uttered the most piercing cries, and 
though treated with the greatest sympathy, remained 
for a long time in a state of the wildest frenzy. The 
house was in the utmost confusion. The lodgers hur- 
ried from their rooms, but were held in control by the 
zouaves of the Colonel's party, who at once established 
and maintained order until the arrival of reinforce- 
ments. 

Their protracted absence having alarmed Adjutant 
Leaser, he ordered Company A, Captain Coyle, to search 
for them. The company found their Colonel dead, and 
their comrades in possession of the hotel. A surgeon 
was then sent for, but Colonel Ellsworth being already 



DEATH OF COLONEL ELLSWORTH. 55 

dead, it was a useless measure. The company then 
made a litter of their muskets and, placing the body of 
the Colonel on it, returned to the boat, leaving, how- 
ever, a detachment to guard the hotel and make prison- 
ers of all its occupants. 

The following beautiful poem, which appeared anony- 
mously in the newspapers, is deemed worthy of a place 
in this connection : 

Don't shed a tear for him ! 

Lay him to rest, 
The bright cross of honor 

Ablaze on his breast. 
The shouts of a Nation 

Shall cheer him to God : 
The hopes of a people 

Spring fresh from his blood. 

Don't shed a tear for him ! 

Heroes must die, 
In gladness, in triumph. 

Like suns from the sky : 
Battle-red banners. 

And war-tramp above ; 
They only break camp up, 

Forward to move. 

Don't shed a tear for him ! 

Mourn him in blood ! 
Quick-dropping bullets 

Shall work him most good. 
Fight for him, fall with him, 

Die as he died — 
Living or dying, 

Our hope and our pride. 

Don't shed a tear from him ! 

Better to go 
Eager for victory. 

Facing the foe. 
For one life like this life 

A thousand shall pay, 
And the fury it kindles 

Shall carry the day. 



56 BEILLIANT EXPLOIT OF LIEUT. TOMPKINS. 



STORY VII 



BRILLIANT EXPLOIT OF LIEUTENANT TOMPKINS. 

On Saturday morning, June 1, 1861, just at break of 
da}^, Lieutenant Tompkins and Second Lieutenant Gor- 
don, witli fifty-two men of Company B, United States 
cavalry, and two men of tlie New York 5tli, and three 
of&cers, Adjutant Frank, Quartermaster Fearing, and 
Assistant Quartermaster Carey, having surprised the 
picket four miles from Fairfax Court, House, dashed 
into the town, sounded the charge, and galloped through 
the principal streets, under a heavy fire from the city 
hall, post office, private houses, fences, streets, and side- 
walks, from soldiers, some of whom were mounted; 
there being from 1,000 to 1,500 in the town — infantry, 
cavalry and artillery. 

Five mounted men Avere captured in this charge, 
being seized by the neck and swept on with the troops. 
At the end of the street they turned, and, holding their 
prisoners with a firm grasp, charged again the whole 
length of the street; then, wheeling, charged through 
the third time, cutting, slashing and firing right and left 
upon all assailants. 

The most of those they shot were in the streets, but 
wherever they saw a gun flash, in door or window, five 
or six shots answered it. One man cried '^Halt!" 
" Wait a bit," said Lieu.tenant Tompkins, and shot him 
instantly. A squadron of cavalry was drawn up across 
the street. A charge was sounded, and the line was 
broken, our men sweeping on. A company of infantry 



BEILLIANT EXPLOIT OF LIEUT. TOMPKINS. 57 

next appeared; drawn np on a cross street. This was 
also charged and broken. A brass six-pounder now 
appearing at the end of a street, and the dragoons appa- 
rently surrounded, as a company of mounted riflemen 
was discovered guarding the only other exit from the 
street, they opened a fence and escaped across the fields 
to the road leading to Vienna, twenty -two miles distant, 
and thence home, having their prisoners strapped on 
behind them. 

Lieutenant Tompkins had two horses shot under him 
in the affair, and Lieutenant Gordon one. Our loss in 
men was one killed, three wounded, and two taken 
prisoners. Of the rebels, twenty- seven were killed, 
including Captain Mar, and many wounded — number 
not ascertained. Our loss in horses, six. 

Of the prisoners captured, Captain John B. Washing- 
ton, of the Eebel infantry, was prominent in resisting 
our cavalry, until a trooper rode up, caught him by the 
hair, lifted him bodily upon the pommel of his saddle, 
and, thus holding him, charged twice through the town 
to the utter astonishment of the captain. 

Altogether, the sally was a daring and brilliant affair. 
But successes, as well as reverses, do not always come 
single. Plaving got word during the "night that the two 
dragoons, taken prisoners on Saturday, were to be hung 
the next morning, Company B was immediately sum- 
moned from their quarters, and mounting, rode to the 
scene of their late exploit, ascertained by some means 
the location of their imprisoned comrades, made a dash 
into the village, recovered the two men, and brought 
them back in triumph to the camp at daybreak. 



58 GOV. JOHNSON AND THE EEBEL CHAPLAINS. 



STORY yiii. 



GOVERNOR JOHNSON AND THE REBEL CHAPLAINS. 

Among tlie secesh clergymen of Nashville sent to 
"safe quarters" by Governor Johnson, for refushig 
to take the oath of allegiance to the Union, was the 
Rev. W. H. Wharton, chaplain of the penitentiary. 

Wharton, before our occupation of the city, had made 
a written report in favor of liberating certain convicts 
from prison, to join the Rebel army. When summoned 
before Johnson, he equivocated, and tried to shelter 
himself under his clerical garb, calling himself "a 
citizen of Heaven." His claim of a higher citizenship 
than of earth was rather damaged Avhen the governor, 
producing his jail-delivery recommendation, sternly 
said: "Is that your report, sir, and your name? Do 
you call that the language of ' a citizen of Heaven,' to 
advise the turning loose of felons from the cells where 
justice has placed them, that they may join in the work 
of killing loyal men, and destroying the best Govern- 
ment in the world? I don't believe the Almighty 
approves of su.ch teaching as that." 

Avaunt ! base hypocrite ! hug your damning sin, 
And don ' heaven's livery to serve the devil in.' 

Plagiarism. 

Others of the Rebel clergymen, among whom were 
Rev. Mr. Sehon and Mr. Elliott, being brought before 
Governor Johnson, the following dialogue ensued : 

Gov. Johnson. "Well, gentlemen, what is your 
desire?" 



GOV. JOHNSON AND THE EEBEL CHAPLAINS. 59 

Mr. Sehon. "I speak but for myself. I do not 
know what the otlier gentlemen wish. My request is 
that I may have a few days to consider on the subject 
of signing this paper. I wish to gather my family 
together and talk over the subject : for this purpose, I 
desire about fourteen clays." 

Gov. Johnson. "It seems to me there should be 
bat little hesitation about the matter. ' All that is 
required of you is to sign the oath of allegiance. If 
you are loyal citizens, you can have no reason to refuse 
to do so. If you are disloyal, and working to obstruct 
the operations of the Government, it is my duty, as the 
representative of that Government, to see that you are 
placed in a position so that the least possible harm 
shall result from your proceedings. You certainly 
cannot reasonably refuse to renew your allegiance to 
the Government that is now protecting you and your 
families and property." 

Mr. Elliott. "As a non-combatant. Governor, I 
considered that under the stipulations of the surrender 
of the city, I should be no further annoyed. As a non- 
combatant, I do not know that I have committed an 
act, since the Federals occupied the city, that would 
require me to take the oath required." 

Gov. Johnson. "I believe, Mr. Elliott, you have 
two brothers in Ohio." 

Mr. Elliott. "Yes, Governor, I have two noble 
brothers there. They did not agree with me in tlje 
course I pursued in regard to Secession. But I have 
lived in Tennessee so many years, that I have con- 
sidered the State my home, and am willing to follow 
her fortunes. Tennessee is a good State." 

Gov. Johnson. " I know Tennessee is a good State : 



60 CAVALIER SONG. 

and I believe the best way to improve her fortunes is 
to remove those from her borders who prove disloyal 
and traitors to her interests, as they are traitors to the 
interest of that Government which has fostered and 
protected them. By your inflammatory remarks and 
conversation, and by your disloyal behavior, in weaning 
the young under your charge from their allegiance to 
the Government, you have won a name that will never 
be placed on the roll of patriots. A visit to the ITorth 
may be of benefit to you." 



CAVALIER SONG. 

Merrily, merrily off we go, 

Slumber all forsaking, 
Cheerily dashing on the foe, 

Ere the day is breaking. 

Consternation seize them all — 
Shrieking, groaning, dying ! 

Such as neither stand nor fall, 
Helter-skelter flying ! 

Swift, again, we face the breeze, 
Nought of danger fearing — 

Moonlight glittering through the trees- 
0, but it is cheering ! 

Our bonnie steeds are sure and fast, 

Eagerly advancing — 
Snorting at the bugle's blast, 

Cheerily, cheerily prancing. 

Verily foiled — the rebel foe, 

Haste away is making ; 
Merrily, merrily home we go, 

Ere the day is breaking. 



CORPORAL HAYES'S FIGHT WITH REBEL CAVALRY. 61 



STORY IX. 



DESPERATE FIGHT OF CORPORAL HAYES'S PARTY WITH 
REBEL CAVALRY. 

On the 26tli of June, 1861, Colonel Wallace, of the 
11th Indiana Volunteers, dispatched his mounted pickets, 
thirteen in all, Corporal Hayes commanding, to Frank- 
ford, midway between Cumberland and Romney (West 
Virginia), to ascertain if there were any Rebel troops 
there. 

They went within a quarter of a mile of the place, 
and found it full of cavalry. In returning they overtook 
forty horsemen, and at once charged on them, routing 
and driving them back more than a mile, killing eight 
of them and securing seven horses. 

Corporal Hayes was severely wounded, with sabre 
cuts and bullets. Taking him back, they halted about 
an hour, and were then attacked by the enemy, who 
were reinforced to about seventy-five men. The attack 
was so sudden that our soldiers abandoned the horses 
and crossed to a small island at the mouth of Patterson's 
creek. 

The charge of the Rebels was bold and confident, yet 
under the fire of our brave pickets, no less than twenty- 
three of them, two of whom were officers, fell close 
about and on the island. 

When flashing eyes and clashing arms, 

In direful fury meet — 
I tell you, then, 'tis life or death, 

Or victory or defeat ! 

The pickets so greatly outnumbered, being unable to 
F 



62 HOW THE REBEL FLAG WAS TAKEN AT DE SOTO. 

continue the desperate conflict, retired from it, scatter- 
ing, each man for himself^ and all arrived safe in camp 
the same evening, excepting John C. Holdingbrook, who 
was taken prisoner in the fight, and afterwards brutally 
murdered. 

Three companies went to the ground the next morn- 
ing and recovered everything belonging to the pickets 
except a few horses. The enemy had been all night 
boxing up their dead. The report of the skirmish, 
says Colonel Wallace, sounds like fiction, but it is not 
exaggerated. The fight was really one of the most 
desperate on record, and abounds with instances of 
wonderfal daring and courage. 



STORY X. 



HOW THE REBEL FLAG WAS TAKEN AT DE SOTO. 

Having been informed of the existence of a rebel or- 
ganization at Potosi, Mo., General Lyon dispatched two 
companies of soldiers, under command of Captain Cole, 
to arrest the parties. The soldiers surrounded the town 
before daybreak, and captured one hundred and fifty 
Eebels, most of whom took the oath of allegiance and 
were released. Those who refused to take the oath 
were taken to St. Louis. 

The expedition also captured at Potosi and De Soto, 
forty horses, one thousand dollars worth of lead, some 
uniforms, &c., and at the latter place a Confederate flag, 
which was to have been raised at a Secession love- 
feast held on that day. 



HOW THE KEBEL FLAG WAS TAKEN AT DE SOTO. 63 

Apprehensive of the safety of their flag, in the 
presence of the troops, they had secreted it, as they 
supposed, in a place least likely to be searched. The 
guard surrounded the house supposed to contain it, 
and Dr. Franklin and Sergeant AYalker entered. 

After searchins; in vain for some time the doctor 
thought he observed the lady of the house sitting in an 
uneasy position, and very politely asked her to rise. 
She at first hesitated to do so, but the doctor persisting, 
she slowly arose, and lo ! the blood-red ensign appeared 
below the lady's hoops ! 

The doctor bowing a graceful " beg pardon, madam," 
stooped, and quietly catching hold of the gaudy color, 
carefully delivered the lady of a Secession flag thirty 
feet long by nine feet wide ! The doctor bore off his 
prize in triumph to the camp. 

The stars and stripes, being in better favor with the 
expedition, were soon run up on the pole prepared by 
the Secessionists for their pitiful imitation, and a guard 
left to protect it. The Union people were wild with 
delight for their deliverance, and manifested their grati- 
fication by providing breakfast and dinner for the 
troops, and bestowing bouquets and flags on the officers, 
and inviting them and their men to stay a month at the 
expense of the inhabitants. This the nature of the ser- 
vice compelled them to decline, and they returned to 
St. Louis by six P. M., greeted with shouts for Lyon, 
Blair, and the flag of our Union. 



64 MATTHIAS POINT SKIRMISH. 



STORY XI, 



MATTHIAS' POINT SKIRMISH. DEATH OF CAPTAIN WARD. 

On t"he 27th of June, 1861, Captain James H. Ward, 
vnfh. tlie steamers Freeborn, Pawnee, Resolute and 
Reliance, made an expedition against tlie Rebels at 
Mattliias' Point, who had for a long time been in the 
habit of firing upon vessels in the Potomac, from the 
concealment of brushwood thickets. 

Landing about forty men, under cover of the guns 
of the squadron, for the purpose of cutting and burning 
the brushwood and erecting batteries, they were sud- 
denly fired upon by some twelve or fourteen hundred 
Rebels, concealed in the thick wood. The Federal 
party were compelled to make a hasty retreat, several 
of the men jumping into the water and swimming to 
the Freeborn. 

Lieutenant Chaplin, of the Pawnee, who commanded 
the party on shore, remained steady and cool, amidst a 
perfect hail of musketry, collected his men and made 
good his retreat, without leaving the enemy a trophy, 
beyond a few sand-bags and some axes and the mus- 
kets of the wounded men. 

The last man left the shore with him, and not being 
able to swim to the boat with his musket, the lieutenant 
took him on his back, musket and all, and reached the 
boat in safety, without a scratch, save a bullet-hole 
through the top of his cap. 

While protecting his men, as far as possible, with his 
guns, having fired from twelve to fifteen shots among 
the Rebels, Captain Ward was struck in the breast by 



ESCAPE OF THE SUMTER. 65 

a ballet, while in the act of firing a gun, (the gunner 
being wounded,) and, in the course of an hour there- 
after, died from internal hasmorrhage. 

Captain "Ward was a gentleman of excellent educa- 
tion. He entered the navy at the age of seventeen 
years. He had seen much active service, and had been 
a professor in the N'aval School at Annapolis ; also, for 
four years commander of the Eeceiving-ship North 
Carolina. He was fifty-five years of age, having been 
born at Hartford, Connecticut, in 1806. 



STORY XII. 



ESCAPE OF THE SUMTER, AND SOME OF HER DEEDS. 

On the 30th of June, 1861, the piratical, armed 
steamer Sumter, which it was well known had been 
lono' lyino^ at the head of the Pass-a-1'Outre, waiting^ for 
an opportunity of escaping the blockade, effected her 
purpose in the following manner : 

At day-break, the look-out discovered a vessel in the 
offing acting so suspiciously as to induce the belief of 
her intention, if possible, to run the blockade. The 
blockading ship, the Brooklyn, immediately went in 
pursuit of her. 

As the vessel kept standing off, the 'Brooklyn was 
led a chase of some fifteen miles from her anchorage, 
when, overhauling her and finding her to be an English 
bark, in ballast, from some Spanish West India port, 
bound for New Orleans, she was warned not to attempt 
to enter. 

5 



6Q ESCAPE OF THE SUMTER. 

During tHs cliase, it was reported to Captain Poor 
that, taking advantage of the absence of the Brooklyn 
from the Pass, a steamer was making its way down the 
river with all possible speed ; instead of instantly 
putting about and hastening back to the river, Captain 
Poor kept steaming on imtil, overtaking the bark, he 
simply warned her off", as above stated. 

When the Brooklyn returned, finding that the 
Sumter had succeeded is crossing the bar. Captain 
Poor, as if just appreciating the importance of the case, 
ordered all possible steam and sail on, and started in 
pursuit of the fugitive. 

This order had hardly been carried into effect when 
a terrible squall came up, and continued with such 
severity as rendered it necessary, to avoid the danger 
of grounding, to slacken the speed, and finally, to stop 
altogether, till the squall had passed, when the Sumter 
was discovered far ahead, going at a rapid rate. 

The Brooklyn then made all sail, the wind coming 
arou.nd fair, and freshening every moment, and it was 
soon evident that she was fast gaining on the Sumter, 
when, to the surprise of all hands on board, Captain 
Poor ordered the ship to be put about, to abandon the 
chase, and to return to her anchorage. 

Thus was suffered to escape a very fast ship, carry- 
ing five guns of large calibre, (one sixty -four and four 
thirty-two pounders.) and some one hundred and 
twenty men; being a Jeff*. Davis letter- of- mar qu.e of 
five hundred tons burden; and in all respects well 
appointed and well calculated to do our commerce 
incalculable injury. 

Having thus es^npc^d from her pursuers, the Sumter 



ESCAPE OF THE SUMTER. 67 

proceeded to business. Her first prize, being tbe 
Golden Eocket; of Bangor, was taken on the 3d of 
July, and burnt. She next captured the brigs Machias 
and Cuba, off Cienfuegos, on the 4th of July. A prize 
crew of four men were put on board the Cuba, and 
Midshipman Hodgson acting as prize master. 

The Sumter towed her prizes all night, and at four 
o'clock on the morning of th 5th, the hawser parted, 
and the Cuba was ordered to steer in for the land. She 
then left the Sumter with the Machias is tow. 

On Monday, the 8th, P. M., the prize crew having 
carelessly laid their arms about the deck, and sonje 
of them gone to sleep. Captain J. D. Strout, of the Cuba, 
having secured the weapons, recaptured his vessel. He 
then ordered the pirates aft, put two of them in irons, 
and secured the other three with ropes, not having a 
sufl&cient supply of manacles. 

Two of them, Spencer and Davison, were soon after 
transferred to the brig Costa Kica, Captain Peel, from 
Aspinwall ; the other three, Hodgson, Donnelly and 
O'Brien, remained on the Cuba, and both ships arrived 
in due time at New York, when the prisoners were 
delivered to the ofSicers of the Harbor Police, at Quar- 
antine, by whom they were taken to the United States 
Marshal's of&ce. The Sumter went on her way, 
plundering and to plunder, and on the 16th of July, 
entered the harbor of Cienfuegos, Cuba, with seven 
prizes, and having procured a supply of coal, left on 
the next day. The prizes were laden with sugar and 
molasses, and were mostly owned at New England 
ports. They were subsequently released, by order of 
the Spanish Government. 



PIEATICAL SEIZURE OF THE ST. NICHOLAS. 



STOEY XIII. 



PIRATICAL SEIZURE OF THE STEAMER ST. NICHOLAS. 

On Friday, the 28tli of June, 1861; at four o'clock 
P. M., the steamer St. Nicholas left Baltimore with 
freight and passengers for different points on the Poto- 
mac, including Alexandria, Washington, and George- 
town. 

Among her passengers were about fifty Secessionists, 
disguised as mechanics going to points on the Maryland 
shore of the Potomac. Of this number, however, was 
Captain Thomas, of St. Mary's County, who was dis- 
guised as a French lady, and retired to a state-room im- 
mediately after going on board. 

After the steamer left Point Lookout, Captain Tho- 
mas threw off* his disguise, and appeared in full military 
costume, armed with revolvers, and with a cutlass by 
his side, and, with the aid of the passengers, seized the 
boat, which was immediately put across to Cony river, 
on the Virginia side. 

There those passengers who were not parties to the 
plot were landed, including the captain of the boat, who 
was placed under guard. A company of 100 Tennessee- 
ans, who were there in readiness, Avere taken on board. 

Two passengers, who came on board at Point Look- 
out, proved to be retired naval officers, took charge of 
the boat, and headed up the river in search of the 
Pawnee, it being part of the programme of the pirates 
(it being late at night) to run into the Pawnee, and in 
the surprise to leap on board and take possession of her. 

Not finding the Pawnee, the St. Nicholas turned 



PIEATICAL SEIZUEE OF THE ST. NICHOLAS. 69 

round, and steamed for tlie bay. Between Smith's 
Point and the Rappahannock thej captured three ves- 
sels, laden with ice, coal and coffee, respectively, with 
which they steamed up the Rappahannock to Freder- 
icksburg. 

On Monday, the 8th of July, Lieutenant Carmichael, 
of Provost Marshal Kenly's police, went down the bay 
in a brig, and boarded the Mary Washington, to arrest 
one of the Baltimore 19th-of- April-rioters, who was 
expected to come on board at the Patuxent. 

On coming up the bay he found that Captain Thomas, 
alias the French lady, who headed the pirates in the 
seizure of the steamer St. Nicholas, was on board with 
seven of his confederates, their object supposed to be 
the seizure of another steamer in the same manner. On 
arriving abreast of Fort McHenry, Lieutenant Carmi- 
chael ordered the captain to stop at the wharf, where he 
communicated with General Banks, who ordered a com- 
pany of Massachusetts troops to arrest all on board. 
Seven of the pirates were found, but Captain Thomas 
had concealed himself, and, after an hour's search, was 
found hid in a large bureau drawer in the ladies' cabin. 
Not having even letters of marque from Jeff. Davis for 
their protection, they could be regarded in no other 
light than as pirates, and were consequently detained at 
the fort, as were also several witnesses who were on 
board the St. Nicholas at the time of seizure. 



An old maid, who has her eye a little sideways on 
matrimony, says : " The curse of the war is, that it will 
make so many widows, who will be fierce to get mar- 
ried, and who know how to do it, that modest girls will 
stand no chance at all." 



70 WHY BUCKNER FAILED TO TAKE LOUISVILLE. 



STORY XIY. 



WHY BUCKNER FAILED TO TAKE LOUISVILLE. 

The fact tliat General Buckner did not take the city 
of Louisville; instead of stopping at Green river, wTien 
lie invaded Kentucky, on tlie line of the Louisville and 
Nashville Railroad, was due not to any foresight or 
force of the United States authorities, or of the Union 
men of Kentucky, but to the loyalty, courage and tact 
of one obscure individual. 

The Secessionists had laid their plans to appear sud- 
denly in Louisville with a powerful force. They had 
provided for transportation four hundred cars and fifteen 
locomotives, and had eight thousand men with artillery 
and camp equipage on board. They had secured the 
services of the telegraph operators, one of whom for- 
warded to Louisville a dispatch explaining the detention 
of trains on the road, and were moving forward at a 
grand rate. Everything was going well with them, and 
Louisville, with, perhaps, the exception of a few Seces- 
sionists, was unsuspecting and unguarded. General An- 
derson having no knowledge of the movement, James 
Guthrie, President of the road, totally in the dark, and 
General Rousseau lingering in camp on the Indiana 
shore. 

But, at a station just beyond Green River, there was 
a young man in the service of the road who was a warm 
friend of the Union, and who, comprehending the mean- 
ing of the monster train when it came up, seized a 
crowbar used for taking up rails to make repairs, and, 
while the locomotives were being wooded and watered. 



SKEDADDLE. 71 

ran across a curve, and in a deep narrow cut wrenched 
the spikes from four rails. 

The train came along at good speed, the rails spread, 
the locomotive plunged into the ground, the cars crashed 
on top of it, and it was twenty-four hours before the 
train could go ahead. In the meantime Louisville was 
saved. The hero of the occasion had not had time to 
get out of the cut before the crash came, and was taken, 
but in the confusion and excitement managed to escape 
to a place of safety. 



SKEDADDLE. 

The shades of night were falling fast, 
As through a Southern village passed 
A youth, who bore, not over-nice, 
A banner with the gay device, 

Skedaddle ! 

His hair was red, his toes beneath. 
Peeped like an acorn from its sheath. 
While with a frightful voice he sung 
A burden strange to Yankee tongue, 
Skedaddle ! 

He saw no household fire where he 
Might warm his tod or hominy ; 
Beyond the Cordilleras alone, 
And from his lips escaped a groan, 
Skedaddle ! 

" stay," a colored person said, 
" An' on dis bosom res' your hed !" 
The octoroon she winked her eye, 
But still he answered with a sigh, 
Skedaddle ! 



72 MASTERLY RETREAT OF SIGEL. 

" Beware McClellan, Buell and Banks, 
Beware of Halleck's deadly ranks !" 
This was the planter's last Good Night. 
The chap replied, far out of sight, 
Skedaddle ! 

At break of day, as several boys 
From Maine, New York and Illinois, 
Were moving Southward, in the air, 
They heard these accents of despair, 
Skedaddle ! 

A chap was found, and at his side 
A bottle, showing how he died. 
Still grasping in his hand of ice 
That banner with the strange device, 
Skedaddle ! 

There, in the twilight, thick and gray. 
Considerably played out he lay ; 
And through the vapor gray and thick, 
A voice fell like a rocket stick. 

Skedaddle ! — Yanity Fair. 



STOEY XY. 



MASTERLY RETREAT OF SIGEL. 

General Lyon, having posted troops at the principal 
places where needed throughont Northern Missouri, 
leaving Colonel Schaeffer with about five hundred men 
at Boonsville, took his departure with 2,000 men, on 
the morning of the 3d of July, 1861, for the southwest. 
Colonel Sigel had preceded him from EoUa, and occu- 
pied a position to the west of Springfield. 

Governor Jackson was collecting his forces on Clear 



MASTERLY RETREAT OF SIGEL. 73 

creek, eight miles south of Osceola, where he had some 
1,500 men, 300 horses and 6,000 mnskets. General 
Kains was encamped a little further south, with 4,000 
men and 6 cannon. General Price had 250 men on the 
north fork of Spring river. 

On the 5th of July, Generals Eains and Parsons, with 
a force of 5,000 men, 1,500 being cavalry, took position 
on a ridge or elevation in the prairie^ seven miles east 
of Carthage, which being known to Colonel Sigel's 
troops, though the force of the enemy was unknown by 
them, they were impatient for a brush ; and Colonel 
Sigel determined to give them battle. Starting at three 
o'clock in the morning he came upon them with his 
command of only about 1,100 men, at about half-past 
eight o'clock. He found the Eebels strongly posted, 
having five pieces of artillery, — one 12 -pounder in front, 
and two 6 -pounders on each flank. The infantry were 
in rear of the artillery, and the cavalry on each flank. 

Colonel Sigel arrayed his forces to the br^st advantage, 
having four pieces of artillery in the centre, and one on 
each flank, the infantry in columns on the right, and 
left, and in the rear. Before opening fire the Colonel 
briefly addressed his troops, reminding them of former 
victories, and asking them to stand by him now. He 
then commenced firing with shrapnell from the piece 
of artillery on his left, and soon the engagement became 
general. The Eebels had no grape-shot, nothing but 
balls, and proved themselves poor artillerists, as most of 
their balls flew high, plowing up the prairie behind our 
troops. They had Confederate flags flying on their 
extreme right and left divisions, and the Missouri State 
- flag in the centre. Twice were the Confederate flags 
shot down by Sigel's troops, their first shots being 



/ 1: MASTEKLY EETEEAT OF SIGEL. 

especially aimed at those objects, tlie men saying they 
had no desire to fire on the State flao*. 

• o 

In three-quarters of an hour the 12-pounder in the 
Eebels' central front was dismounted, and their centre 
column completely broken. In two hours more their 
artillery was entirely silenced. After a short interval 
they renewed their fire, but were again silenced. They 
then commenced flank movements with their cavalry, 
threatening an attack in the rear, and the capture of 
Colonel Sigel's baggage train, three miles behind. 

To prevent such a calamity, the colonel hurried back 
one piece of artillery and a detachment of infantry to 
guard a , ferry, with a view to secure his retreat from 
being cut off; and then adroitly commenced a retro- 
grade movement with his entire command, dispatching 
at the same time an order for the advance of the baggage 
train. 

In this movement he preserved the order of his 
columns, the artillery continuing to do admirable ser- 
vice, and fighting deliberately over every inch of ground 
till the baggage wagons were reached ; w;hen they were 
immediately formed in solid columns of eight, with the 
infantry and artillery posted on all sides, presenting an 
impregnable array. 

Thus, v/ith perfect order, with Colonel Solomon's bat- 
talion in front, the column continued alternately fighting 
and retreating, in the face of greatly superior numbers. 
At the crossing of Dry fork, our lines were very near 
being bl:*oken, wheii by the timely arrival of 200 men 
from Shoal creek, they effected a crossing, Avith a loss 
of five killed and two mortally wounded. 

The retroo-rade toward Carthao'e continued, till at 
last, at five o'clock, they came to a place where the road 



MASTERLY RETREAT OF SIGEL. 75 

passed directly tliroiigli a higli bluffy after passing a 
small creek. On the two sides of this divided bluff, 
800. of the Eebel cavalry took position, prepared to 
resist the passage of the creek and the road. The 
position was one of difficulty, and would have seriously 
perplexed any less skillful officer than Colonel Sigel. 

AYith the utmost coolness he instantly conceived and 
adopted a splendid stratagem, which placed his foes 
entirely at his mercy, and eventually secured the unim- 
peded movements of his command. He ordered an 
oblique movement on the right and left of his forces, 
as if to pass around the sides of the blufp, at the same 
time advancing the two pieces of artillery on the sides, 
to a position in front, giving Colonel Solomon's bat- 
talion the strength of two pieces on his right, and 
two on his left. 

The oblique movements of the infantry were accom- 
panied by a feint of the artillery in the same direction. 
The Rebel cavalry construing these manoeuvres very 
much in their favor, rushed down into the road from 
both sides of the bluff, evidently intending to make a 
grand charge upon Colonel Sigel's centre. 

With the quickness of thought the movements to the 
right and left were reversed, and a terribly destructive 
cross-fire was opened upon the Rebels, the distance being 
about 300 yards, and the guns heavily charged with 
grape-shot. In ten minutes the route of the cavalry 
Avas complete. They fled in great disorder ; and the 
the prairie was full of flying and riderless horses, of 
which our men captured 85. They also picked up 65 
double-barrel shot guns, which the flying Rebels had 
cast away. Two officers were also here captured, who 
stated that up to this time they had lost 250 men. 



76 MASTEKLY EETEEAT OF SIGEL. 

Colonel Siorel was now anxious to reacL. Carthao^e, 
tbres miles distant, and to take a position in the woods 
north of that place, on the Sarcoxie road, so as to pre- 
vent the annoyance of the Rebel cavalry. This move- 
ment took from half-past six to half-past eight o'clock 
in the evenino', and here was the hottest fi^rhtin?]: of the 
day ; the enemy appreciating the colonel's desire to get 
under cover of the woods, stubbornly resisted his pro- 
gress. Finally, against great disparity of numbers, he 
gained the timber, when the enemy retired to Carthage. 

Ascertaining soon that the Rebels had given up the 
day, Sigel then immediately took up his line of march, 
and pressed on twelve or fourteen miles to Sarcoxie, 
where they arrived, without further trouble, at three 
o'clock ill the morning;, after a most arduous and 
heroic struggle of twenty -four consecutive hours. Here 
they partook of refreshments and rest till the next 
evening, Avhen they marched to Mt. Yernon, in Lawrence 
county, where they were heartily welcomed and hospit- 
ably entertained. 

The loss of the Rebels in the affair above narrated, 
according to their own acknowledgment, was 500, 
while the loss of the Government troops was only 10 
killed, 43 wounded, of whom 11 died, and 4 missing ; 
making a total of 57. 

The assault, on the part of Colonel Sigel, was very 
bold and dreadfully destructive to the enemy. The 
retreat Avas one of the most skillfully conducted, brave, 
orderly, and successful on record ; partaking more of 
the nature of victory than of defeat. In fact it was a 
retrogradely fought battle, in which the enemy was held 
completely in check and foiled at every point ; and had 
Colonel Sigel's expected reinforcements from Neosho 



77 

and Sarcoxie met liim at Cartilage, Ms victory would 
have been complete. 

The object of Colonel Si gel in giving battle as he did 
was probably to intercept the Eebels' march on Car- 
thagC; and cut up their forces in detail, if possible, and 
and thus prevent their junction, and keep them in check 
till the arrival of General Lyon and Major Sturgis, both 
of whom, though yet north of the Osage, might possibly 
reach Springfield in six or eight days. The guard of 
120 men left by Sigel at Neosho, were subsequently 
captured by Ben McCuUoch's Arkansas troops, and 
released on taking oath not to bear arms against the 
Southern Confederacy. 



"I FIGHTS MIT SIGEL." 

I met him one morn, he was trudging along, 

His knapsack with chickens was swelling. 
He'd "blenkered" those dainties, and thought it no wrong, 

From some Secessionist's dwelling. 
" What regiment's yours ? and under Avhose flag 

Do you fight ?" said I, touching his shoulder, — 
Turning slowly around he smilingly said, 

(For the thought made him stronger and bolder,) 
'' I fights mit Sigel." 

The next time I saw him his knapsack was gone, 

His cap and his canteen were missing ; 
Shell, shrapnell and grape, and the swift rifle ball. 

Around him and o'er him were hissing : 
" How are you my friend, and where have you been, 

And for what and for whom are you fighting ?" 
He said, as a shell from the enemy's gun 

Sent his arm and his musket a " kiting," 

" I fights mit Sigdr 



78 AFFECTING INCIDENT OF THE WAR. 

And once more I saw him and knelt by liis side, — 

His life blood was rapidly flowing : 
I whispered of home, wife, children and friends, 

And the bright laud to which he was going. 
" And have you no word for the dear ones at home, 

The ' wee one,' the father or mother ?" 
"Yaw ! yaw !" said he, " tell them, oh tell them," — (quite done, 

Poor fellow ! he thought of no other) — 

'* lights mit SigeL" 

We scooped out a grave, and he dreamlessly sleeps 

On the banks of the Shenando' river ; 
His home and his kindred alike are unknown, 

His reward in the hands of the Giver. 
We placed a rough board at the head of his grave, 

" And we left him alone in his glory," 
But on it we marked, ere we turned from the spot, 

The little we knew of his story— 

" I fights mit Sigel." 

Grant P. Eobinson. 



STOEY XVI 



AN AFFECTING INCIDENT OF THE WAR. 

The following incident affords a striking but sad 
illustration of the effects of civil war: (In tlie fall of 
1860, a young gentleman of Eiclimond was introduced^ 
by a mutual friend, to a young lady belonging to a 
family in Alexandria. The young people soon became 
intimately acquainted, and, quite naturally, fell in love. 
The parents on both sides consenting, the parties were 
betrothed, and the marriage day was fixed for the 4th 
of July ensuing. 

In the meantime, however, Virginians were called 



DAVE TOD. 79 

upon to decide on whicli side tliej would stand. The 
lady declared herself on the side of the Government, 
but the gentleman joined the Eebel forces. No oppor- 
tunity was afforded for the interchange of sentiments 
between the young folks, or anything settled as to their 
future movements. 

Matters remained thus till the 4th of July, 1861, 
when, exactly within an hour of the time originally 
fixed for the marriage, intelligence was conveyed to the 
residence of the lady that the young man had been shot 
by a sentry, two days before, while attempting to desert 
and join his bride. His betrothed did not shed a tear, 
but, standing erect, smiled, and then remarking to her 
mother, " I am going to desert, too," fell to the floor, 
while the life-blood bubbled from her lips, and the next 
morning she was carried to her last resting place.; 

[N. Y. Express. 



Dave Tod, otherwise " Tod and Victory," spent 
about ten thousand dollars in getting up a regiment 
for the war, and his son belonged to it and carried a 
musket. Of course, as Mr. Tod Avas a man of distinc- 
tion and wealth, his son could have had a commission, 
whether he was of any account or not. But that was 
not old Dave's way. His son must go into the ranks. 
The boy is a good one, too — one of the best shots in the 
regiment — and has the reputation of killing two of the 
prowling Secession assassins. Honor to whom honor is 
due ; and who deserves it better than the efficient Gov- 
ernor Tod, of Ohio ? 



80 TRAGEDY OF THE SCHOONER S'. J. WARING. 



STORY XYII. 



TRAGEDY OF THE SCHOONER S. J. WARING. 

The schooner S. J. Wariog, Captain Francis Smitli, 
the third clay out from New York, on the 7th of July, 
1861, being 150 miles from Sandy Hook, in latitude 
38° 55', and longitude 69° 4', was brought to by the 
Eebel privateer brig Jeff. Davis. A boat full of men 
was sent alongside, who ordered the captain to haul 
down the United States flag, and declared the Waring 
a prize. 

They took from her a quantity of provisions, and 
then, taking away Captain Smith, the two mates and 
two seamen, leavinsc the steward, two seamen and a 
passenger on board, they placed on her, as a prize crew, 

Montague Amiel, a Charleston pilot, in command, 

Stevens, mate, Malcom Sidney, second mate, and two 
men. 

Of the tragedy which subsequently ensued, the fol- 
lowing is a narrative of the steward, William Tillman, 
a colored man, and the hero of it. He is described as 
being "of medium height, rather strongly built, crisp 
hair, nearly unmixed negro blood, bearing in his pock- 
marked countenance an expression of honesty and 
strong common sense, with some touches of humor." 
lie says he was born of free colored parents, in Milford, 
Delaware, and was twenty -seven years old, and had fol- 
lowed the sea ten years. 

" The schooner S. J. Waring had started on a voyage 
to Montevideo, with an assorted cargo, which, with the 
vessel, was valued at §100,000. 



TRAGEDY OF THE SCHOONER S. J. WARING. 81 

"There were on board — the captain and mate; W. 
Tilhnan. steward; William Stedding, seaman, a Ger- 
man, twenty-three years of age; Daniel McLeod, sea- 
man, of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, thirty years of age, 
and Bryce McKmnon, a passenger. 

" On the 7th of July Ave fell m with the Jeff Davis, 
and a prize crew of five were put on board, who were 
"Unarmed. We run ten days, and didn't find Cliarles- 
ton; Ave were, however, only 50 miles south of Charles- 
ton, and 100 miles eastward. On the voyage they 
treated me the best kind of Avay, and talked the best 
kind of talk. 

" One day the first lieutenant of the pirates was sit- 
ting in the cabin, cross-legged, smoking, and he said to 
me, ' When you go down to Savannah, I Avant yon to 
go to my house, and I will take care of you.' I thought, 
yes, you aa^II take care of me Avhen you get me there. 
I raised my hat, and said. 'Yes, sir; thank you.' But 
after Avar d, I said to Billy, (the German,) ' I am not 
going to Charleston a live man; they may take me 
there dead.' 

" He had been told by the prize-master that he would 
get Avell rcAvarded in Charleston for performing his duty 
so Avell, in bringing the schooner in. He also overheard 
conversation not intended for his ears, in regard to the 
price he Avould probably bring : and he had heard the 
prize-master say to one of his men : ' You talk to that 
steward, and keep him in good heart. By God,' said 
he, ' he Avill never see the North again.' 

"Tillman conferred with tAvo of the seamen about 
taking possession of the schooner ; but they declined 
adopting any plan, saying that none of them kneAV how 



82 TRAGEDY OF THE SCHOONER S. J. Vr.\EING. 

to navigate lier back, sTioiild tliey succeed in getting 
control, 

Tillman tlioiiglit the matter for tliree days, and then 
made an appeal to the German, and said, " If yon are a 
man and stick to your word, we can take this vessel 
easy. Then (in Tillman's w^ords) we made a plan that 
I should go to my berth, and when most of them were 
asleep, he was to give me some sign or awake me. 

" We tried this for two nights, but no good chance 
oft'ered. But last Tuesday night we caught them asleep, 
and we went to work. The mate comes to my berth and 
touches me. He says, ' now is your time.' I went into 
my room and got my hatchet. The first man I struck 
was the captain. He was lying in a state-room on the 
starboard side. 

" I aimed at his temple, as near as I could, and hit 
him just below the ear, with the edge of the hatchet. 
With that he made a very loud shriek. The passenger 
jumped up, very much in a fright. I told him, ^do 
you be still ; I shall not hurt a hair of your head.' The 
passenger knew what I was up to ; he never said a word 
more. I walked right across the cabin to the second 
mate's room, and gave him one severe blow in the mole 
of the head — that is right across the middle of his head. 

" I didn't stop to see whether he was dead or not, but 
I jumped on deck, and as I did so, -the mate, who had 
been sleeping, on the companion-way, started from the 
noise he had heard in the cabin. Just as he rose upon 
his feet, I struck him in the back of the head. Then 
the German chap jumped over, and we 'mittened' on 
to him and flung him over the starboard quarter." 

Marshal Murray. "What did you do then?" 

Tillman. " Then we went down straight into the 



TRAGEDY OF THE SCIIOOXEn S. J. ^VARIITG. 83 

cabin. The second mate was not quite dead. lie wa3 
sitting, leaning against liis berth. I catclied him by the 
hair of the head with mj left hand, and struck him vdth 
the hatchet; which I had in my right hand. I told this 
young German — ' Well, let's get him overboard as soon 
as AYe can.' So we hauled him over onto the cabin." 

The Marshal " Was he quite dead?" 

Tillman. " No ; he was not quite dead, but he would 
not have lived lono-. We fluno^ him over the starboard 

o o 

quarter. Then I told this German to go and call the 
man Jim, the Southern chap, (one of the pirates,) here. 
He called him aft. Says I, 'Jim, come down here in 
the cabin. Do you know that I have taken charge of 
this vessel to-night ? I am going to put you in irons.' 
' Well,' says he, ' I am willing.' He gave right up. I 
kept him in irons till eight o'clock next morning. I 
then sent the German for him, and I said, ' Smith,' 
(the name Milnor went by on board,) 'I wan't you to 
join us, and help take this vessel back. But mind, the 
least crook, or the least turn, and overboard you go 
with the rest.' ' Well,' said he, ' I will do the best I 
can.' And he worked well all the way back. He 
couldn't do otherwise. It was pump or sink." 

Marshal. Did they beg, any of them?" 

Tillman. "They didn't have any chance to beg. It 
was all done in five minutes. In seven minutes and a 
half after I struck the first blow the vessel was squared 
away before the wind, and all sail on. We were fifty 
miles south of Charleston, and one himdred to the east- 
ward." 

Tillman said, that at first he had thought of securing 
all the men, and bring^ino^ them all to New York alive, 
in irons, but found this was impracticable. To use his 



84 TEAGEDY OF THE SCHOONER S. J. WARING. 

own language^ " There were too many for that ; there 
were five of them and only three of us. After this I 
said, well, I will get all I can back alive, and the rest I 
will kill." 

The testimony of Mr. Mclvinnon, though giving 
further particulars, does not contradict or invalidate, 
but confirms, Tillman's statement, which may, there- 
fore, be deemed reliable. Mr. McKinnon concludes 
the narrative as follows : 

" The steward now took command, and the schooner 
was headed for the North, with a fair wind. None of 
us kncAv any thing of navigation; but we trusted to 
good fortune and the land, to enable us to make out 
our course. Of course, we had to be vigilant. Two of 
our hands might turn upon us at any moment, and 
McLeod was not faithful. Stedding, Tillman, and I, 
managed so that two of us were on deck all the while, 
and always aft of the other three. The men on watch 
carried the two pistols, and the one that slept always 
kept one eye open, lest we might be attacked. 

"On Friday the 19th, we made the land at eight 
o'clock in the morning, which became quite distinct by 
noon; and we kept on our way, with good weather, 
sounding as we went. On Sunday morning, at nine 
o'clock, we got a pilot off Sandy Hook, and soon after 
hired a tug for $60, to tow us up to New York, where 
we arrived about four, P. M., truly thankful for our 
great deliverance." 



<•■>»» 



TERRIBLE FATE OF THE PRIVATEER PETREL. 85 



STORY XYIII. 

TERRIBLE FATE OF THE REBEL PRIVATEER PETREL. 

The United States frigate St. Lawrence had cruised 
for a month along the Atlantic coast; between Cape 
Henrj and Savannah, and on the morning of the 1st of 
August, 1861; while just outside the harbor of Charles- 
toU; espied a long rakish schooner, filled with men, and 
mounting three or four guns, sailing rapidly down upon 
her. 

The port-holes were still shut, but the flag was at the 
peak, and the St. Lawrence looked not unlike a great 
lumber] y merchantman, becalmed in a strange latitude, 
and too unwieldy for any purpose save the holding of a 
large cargo for the avarice of an enemy to court, and a 
daring privateer to secure. 

As the stranger came down, the St. Lawrence hoisted 
all sail, and affected to be anxious to get out to sea. In 
reality, however, she was edging in closer to shore, and 
making arrangements below to receive the reckless visi- 
tors with appropriate largess. 

Directly, a shot came skipping over the water, falling 
into the sea a few rods ahead of the frigate, and. a num- 
ber followed it in quick succession, but nearly all either 
falling short or passing over. The final discharge con- 
sisted of grape and canister, which made some little 
dalliance with the frigate's rigging, admonished the 
commander that the play was growing serious. 

At this time the vessels were Avithin speaking distance, 
and a man in uniform was seen mounted upon the 
pirate's deck, who shouted to the St. Lawrence to lay-to 

H * 



S(y TEKRIBLE FATE OF" THE PRIVATEER PETREL. 

and send over a boat. The crew were distinctly seen 
flonrishmg their cutlasses, and the gunners ramming 
and pointing their guns. She carried three guns, sup 
posed to be rifled cannon. 

Then the St. Lawrence threw up her ports, and dis- 
closed a whole broadside of cannon, with the gunners 
at the breech of the guns, holding lighted fuses/ and 
directly the broad decks were filled with seamen in blue 
jackets, armed with muskets, who sprung into the 
shrouds, and ran out on the yards, laying prone in the 
maintop, on the bowsprit, in the forecastle, and at every 
point where aim could be taken with advantage. In a 
word, the ugly merchantman was metamorphosed into 
a bristling war ship, with a man at every point, and a 
broadside of cannon looking into the eyes of the 
pirates. 

The latter, taken aback, recoiled a moment; but, 
before they had time for action, even for thought, the 
guns belched forth iron and fire, splintering the masts, 
cutting the rigging and sails as with knives, breaking 
the spars and the booms, and literally carving the 
schooner into pieces, and opening gulfs into which the 
waters rushed as through sluices, filling the hold, and 
admonishing the Eebels that their sole hopes of life lay 
in the ship's boat, or in wrestling with the sea. 

The fire still continued, and the water was full of 
drift-wood. Many of the men jumped overboard, and 
the rest, launching the life-boat, jumped in, and held up 
a white handkerchief as a sign of surrender. 

The St. Lawrence still continued the fire Avith small 
arms, but, directiug their aim at the hulk, and not at 
the small boat, the crew, excepting four men, were not 
injured. In ten minutes from the firing of her first 



DEATH OF GENERAL LYON. 87 

gun, the vessel swayed heavily, and went under, carry- 
ing down four men. 

The officers of the St. Lawrence now discovered the 
life-boat and the flag of humiliation. They dropped a 
boat and made out to the Eebels, and finally passed 
them on board ship, where they were ironed as fast as 
received, and securely confined below. 

In the engagement the St. Lawrence received two 
shots, one in the foresail, the other in the quarter-deck. 
She transferred her prisoners, thirty-seven in number, 
to the Flag, on Sunday morning, and they were at once 
taken to Philadelphia, where they were confined in the 
Moyamensing prison to await the action of the proper 
authorities. 

These pirates were mostly Irishmen by birth, poorly 
dressed, and appeared to have no regular uniform. As 
far as appearances were concerned, they were admirably 
fitted for their nefarious business. 

The Petrel was formerly the United States revenue 
cutter Wm. Aiken, and Avas surrendered in Charleston 
harbor by her commander, on the 27th of December, 
1860. 



STORY XIX 



DEATH OF GENERAL LYON, AT THE BATTLE OF WILSON'S 
CREEK, AUGUST 10th, 1861. 

General Lyon had already received two wounds 
and had his horse shot under him, but immediately 
mounted another and continued giving orders. 

The First Iowa, under Lieutenant-Colonel Merritt, 



88 DEATH OF GENEEAL LYOIT. 

and part of the Kansas troops, were ordered to take the 
place of the First Missouri, who were almost exhausted, 
from over two hours severe fighting, and were in 
danger of being overpowered by a fourth body of fresh 
troops, now brought against them. 

The lowans and Kansans marched to the front with 
a firm tread, in excellent order, and, fighting like tigers, 
saved our army from overwhelming defeat. General 
Lyon saw and highly commended their indomitable 
bravery. 

General Lyon now desired the men to prepare to 
make a bayonet charge immediately after their next 
fire ; when the lowans at once offered to go, and asked 
for a leader. There was no time to designate a leader ; 
the enemy were advancing in force. " I will lead you ! 
Come on, bravo menf exclaimed Lyon, placing him- 
self in the van of the lowans, and General Sweeney 
leading the Kansas troops. 

The enemy advanced, discharged their pieces, and 
then retired before the destructive fire of our men. At 
this time, the brave General Lyon fell. He was imme- 
diately placed in an ambulance, to be carried to 
Springfield. General Sweeney being at the same time 
disabled by a shot in his right leg, the command 
devolved upon Major Sturgis. 

The battle having commenced in front before six 
o'clock in the morning, and continued with but little 
intermission until eleven o'clock, and the enemy being 
finally driven from the field; Major Sturgis, upon 
learning that Captain Totten's cannon ammunition was 
nearly expended, ordered the ambulances, laden with 
wounded officers and soldiers, to move toward Spring- 
field; Lieutenant Dubois' battery having been sent back 



DEATH OF GENEEAL LYON". 89 

to tlie hill, at the nortli of the valley, to protect the 
retreat, in case the enemy should return. 
, The remnant of our brave army, though victorious 
in battle, then commenced returning to Springfield, in 
face of an enemy greatly superior in numbers, who 
were, however, so terribly whipped, as to be unable to 
make any attempt to follow. 

This was one of the bloodiest battles on record. 
General Lyon's force was 5,200 men, while that of the 
enemy, as ascertained from their captured muster-rolls, 
was 23,000. Our loss was 223 killed, 721 wounded, 
and 291 missing. The Eebel loss was much greater. 

The remains of General Lyon were placed in a 
metallic cof&n, and in charge of his relatives and 
friends, accompanied by a military escort, were trans- 
ported to, Eastport, Conn., the place of his nativity, 
where they were interred with military honors and 
marked demonstrations of public regard. 

Thus, in the prime of life, closed the career of one 
of the bravest and noblest men that ever devoted his 
life and energies to our country's service. 

A wail on the wind, 
From the far Western border : 

Our nation is stricken 
In grief and disorder ! 

A hero hath fallen ! 

The tidings how solemn ! 
Facing the foeman, 

At the head of his column ! 

Brave lowas called 

For a hero to lead 'em. 
To again front the battle 

For the Union and freedom. 



90 DEATH OF GENEEAL LYON. 

Its battle cry " onward !" 
That phalanx all gory ! 

Brave Lyon now leads it, 
To death, or to glory ! 

Never marched army-men 

Braver or bolder, 
Up to the canon's mouth, 

Shoulder to shoulder. 

'' Charge, with the bayonet ! 

Cleave, with the sabre ! 
Thoughtless of danger, 

And reckless of labor. 

" No time is left us 
With traitors to trifle ! 

Give them the contents 
Of musket and rifle." 

* * * * * 

Lo ! the base Eebels, 

Disorderly flying. 
Mid the din of the battle, 

And moans of the dying ! 

Thick o'er the battle-field, 
Carnage is scattered ! 

Hundreds of heroes lie 
Mangled and shattered! 

Death sends his messenger. 
Heavy and leaden, 

Again Lyon's heart's blood 
His drmor doth redden ! 

He falleth, while flieth 

Base traitors before him : 
A victor he dieth, 

And glory waves o'er him. 
A wail on the wind 

From the far Western border : 
Our nation is stricken 

la griei and disorder ! 



ZAaONYl's CHARGE. 91 



STOEY XX. 



ZAGONYI'S CHAEGE. 

It was a glorio-as fight. These is nothing more bril- 
liant known to our history — perhaps^ to any history. 
Wilson's Creek is doubly historic ground ; upon it, on 
the 10th of August, 1861, occurred the terrible battle 
in which a thousand of our brave men poured out their 
blood like water; and the heroic Lyon laid down his 
life for the country which shall ever cherish his name in 
green and grateful remembrance; and eleven weeks 
after, on the head waters of the same stream, was made 
that charge of the Fremont Body -Guard, under the 
gallant Zagonyi. which will be ever coupled hereafter 
with that of the Light Brigade of Balaklava, when — 

" Into the jaws of death, 
Into the gates of hell. 
Rode the six hundred." 

Time will not permit me to record any thing more 
than a few incidents of the battle, if battle it can be 
called; but it is clear beyond dispute, that 150 raw men, 
never before under fire, after a wearying ride of fifty 
miles, deliberately rode through a galling fire for more 
than a quarter of a mile, dismounted, tore down a fence, 
remounted and formed, all while the bullets were flying 
about them like hail, and then, with enthusiastic shouts 
for "Fremont and the Union," charged through and 
through a body of more than 1,000 cavalry and infan- 
try, completely routing and dispersing them ; that they 
then dashed into the city and chased the remainder of 



92 ZAGONYI'S CHAEGE. 

the flying Kebels tlirougli tlie streets for an hour and 
a half, until the last man of them was driven out of 
Springfield; in short, that 150 men defeated and drove 
2,000 away, so effectually, that the little guard left 
behind was able to hold the town for two days, until 
the remainder of the army came up. 

The loss of the Body- Guard, as far as could be ascer- 
tained at the time, amounted to 16 killed, 25 wounded, 
and 10 missing. Many who were slightly wounded 
were not included in these figures. 

Major Zagonj^i, who rode at the head of his men 
through the whole fight, did not receive a single 
scratch ; though one bullet cut his clothing across the 
breast. One of his sergeants had three horses shot 
under him. Another of his men received one ball in a 
blacking-box, which he carried in his pocket; and a 
second bullet passed through his coat, vest, and shirt, 
but did not break the skin. Sergeant Hunter of Com- 
pany C, had his horse shot in seven places ; and more 
than two-thirds of all the horses were wounded. 

On visiting the field on the west side of town, where 
the first change was made, I found the dead horses still 
lying upon the ground. The trees in the vicinity were 
cut and torn with balls, and thirty -six bullet holes were 
found in a single fence rail, and the ground was in many 
places still red with blood. 

There were three companies of the body-guard in the 
engagement — A, B, and C. The latter was armed with 
Beal's revolvers, and sabres ; the two former, in addi- 
tion to those weapons, carried Colt's revolving carbines. 
After having once given all their fire, there was no 
time to reload, and the most efi'ective work of the day 



93 

was done witli tlie sabres. At tlie close of it, almost 
every sabre of tlie command was stained with blood. 

The funeral of fourteen of tbe body-guard, and two 
of Major White's men, occurred on the 29th of October, 
the third day after the fight, and was attended" by the 
major-general and his staff, a portion of the army, and 
many of the people of Springfield. The bodies were 
enclosed in plain, unpainted cofiins, and all interred in 
one grave, with military honors. The services were 
conducted by the Eev. C. M. Blake, the staff' chaplain. 

The sixteen riderless horses, which followed the re- 
mains to the grave, told the cost at which the victory 
was won ; and while the dust was being^ committed to 
dust, with the solemn and impressive Episcopal service, 
there were few dry eyes among the stricken band who 
had gathered together to do the last earthly honors to 
their fallen comrades. 

When Major Zagonyi was sent out to reconnoitre the 
country, and if practicable, take possession of Spring- 
field, it was not supposed that there were more than 
three or four hundred Eebels there, as Avas actually the 
case but a few days before. When he reached that 
vicinity, and learned of their overwhelming numbers, it 
would doubtless have been good generalship for him 
to have fallen back, and wait for reinforcements. But 
the idea had been so industriously given out, by those 
who seemed to hate the commanding general of that 
department, more than they loved the Union, that the 
body-guard was a sort of kid-glove ornamental corps, 
intended only to swell the retinue, and add to the dis- 
play of General Fremont, and not fit for hard service ; 
that every man in it was eager to remove the unjust, 
and ungenerous imputation. That they accomplished 



94: ZAGONYl'S CHAEGE. 

it, none ayHI deny, and if anj think tlie cost great, let 
them remember where the blame lies. — Cor. W. Y. 
Tribune. 

The following is Major Zagonyi's dispatch to Greneral 
Fremont : 

Five miles sonth of Bolivar, Mo., ) 
October 26th, 1 A. M. J 

General : — I report, respectfully, that yesterday 
afternoon, at four o'clock, I met, in Springfield, from 
2,000 to 2,200 of the Eebels, in their camp, formed in 
line of battle. They gave me a warm reception — 
warmer than I expected. But your guard, with one 
feeling, made a charge, and in less than three minutes^ 
the 2,000 or 2,200 Eebels were routed by 150 men of 
the body guard. 

W e cleared out the city perfectly from every Eebel, 
and raised the Union flag on . the court-house. It 
getting too dark, I concluded to leave the city, not 
being able to keep it with 150 men. Major White's 
men did not participate in the charge. 

Allow me, General, to make you acquainted with the 
soldiers and officers. I have seen charges; but such 
brilliant unanimity and bravery, I had never seen, and 
did not expect it. Their war cry, "Fremont and the 
Union," broke forth like thunder. 

Our loss is comparatively small; I expected to 
remain on the field with them all. I will write about 
particulars. 

With the highest respect, your obedient servant, 

Chas. Zagonyi, 
Major CommandiDg Body-Guard. 



ZAGONYl'S CHARGE. 95 



ZAGONYI. 

Bold captain of tlie body-guard, 

I'll troll a stave to thee ! 
My voice is somewhat harsh and hard, 

And rough my minstrelsy. 
I've cheered until my throat is sore 
For how our boys at Beaufort bore, 

Yet here's a cheer for thee ! 

I hear thy jingling spears and reins, 

Thy sabre at thy knee ; 
The blood runs lighter through my veins, 

As I before me see 
Thy hundred men, wath thrusts and blows, 
Eide down a thousand stubborn foes. 

The foremost led by thee 

With pistol snap, and rifle crack — 
Mere salvos fired to honor thee — 

Ye plunge, and stamp, and shoot, and hack, 
The way your swords made free ; 

Then back again, the path is wide 

This time. Ye gods ! it was a ride. 
The ride they took with thee ! 

No guardsman of the whole command, 

Halts, quails, or turns to flee ; 
With bloody spur and steady hand. 

They gallop where they see 
Thy leading plume stream out ahead, 
O'er flying, wounded, dying, dead — 

They can but follow thee. 

So, captain of the body-guard, 

I pledge a health to thee ! 
I hope to see thy shoulders starred. 

My Paladin ; and we 
Shall laugh at fortune in the fray, 
Whene'er you lead your well-known way 

To death or victory. — G. H. Boker. 



96 CAPTUEE OF FORT HATTERAS. 



STOEY XXI. 



CAPTURE OF FORT HATTERAS. 

A NAVAL and military expedition was fitted ont 
and sailed from Hampton Eoads on Monday, the 26tli 
of August, 1861, without notifying the New York 
reporters, and, consequently, the public were not ad- 
vised of it, either North or South, in time to frustrate 
the purposes of the Government. 

The destination of the armament was Forts Hatteras 
and Clark, which commanded Hatteras Inlet, the prin- 
cipal entrance to Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, and 
key to the North Carolina interior coast, the principal 
rendezvous and headquarters of the pirates and smug- 
glers. 

The fleet consisted of the frigates Minnesota and 
Wabash, the sloop-of-war Pawnee, the Cumberland, 
the Susquehanna, the Monticello, the Harriet Lane, the 
steamers Adelaide and George Peabody, two propellers, 
a large number of schooners, barges, and other small 
craft. The fleet was under command of Flag-Officer 
Stringham. Its armament Avas upwards of 100 guns. 

The land forces, commanded by General Butler, were 
shipped on board the Adelaide and George Peabody, 
and consisted of 500 of the Twentieth New York, 
Colonel Weber ; 220 of the Ninth New York, Colonel 
Hawkins; 100 of the Union Coast Guard, Captain 
Nixon, and 60 of the United States Artillery, Lieuten- 
ant Larned commanding ; constituting a total force of 
880 men, designed to operate, in conjunction with the 
fleet, against the Rebel forts. 



CAPTURE OF FORT HATTERAS. 97 

Tlie fleet arrived off Hatteras lulet late on Tuesday 
afternoon, and the next morning, at day-break, disposi- 
tions were made for an attack upon the forts by the 
fleet and for landing the troops, which was found to be 
a difficult matter, owing to the previous prevalence of 
southwest gales, which caused the breaking of a heavy 
surf upon the beach. 

Though a laborious effort was made to land the 
troops, onl}?- 315 were landed, including 55 marines 
from the fleet and a number of regulars. Fortunately, 
a rifled 12-pounder cannon and a 12-pound howitzer 
were also landed, when, the boats all being broken up 
or swamped and the wind rising, further landing was 
rendered impracticable. The landing had been effected 
under cover of shells from the Monticello and Harriet 
Lane, and those who reached the shore were thoroughly 
wet. 

The bombardment was commenced by the Minne- 
sota, about two miles and a half distant, on Wednesday, 
at eleven o'clock, A. M., and she was soon after joined 
by the whole fleet. 

The scene was magnificent. The bombardment from 
the fleet was incessant, and the shells pitched into the 
forts and exploded with terrible effect; the forts re- 
sponding at long intervals. After about three hours, 
the nearest fort (Fort Clark) was silenced, and its flag 
struck, the garrison abandoning it and taking refuge in 
Fort Ilatteras. 

A small party of the Coast Guard, led by Mr. Wie- 
gel, a volunteer aid, advanced and took possession of 
the abandoned fort, and raised the American flao\ 

The Monticello which, to protect the land force, had 
reached the inlet and unfortunately grounded, became 



98 CAPTUKE OF FOET HATTEKAS. 

the object of a terrible fire from Fort Hatteras, to whicL. 
slie replied sliarply with shell, and held her own for 
fifty minutes, in which time she threw fiftj-five shells, 
partially silencing her assailants. She finally succeeded 
in getting off, and withdrew for repairs, having had 
seven 8 -inch shells shot through her, one of them below 
water, and one or two men slightly bruised, but no 
others hurt. 

As night was approaching, and the weather appeared 
threatening, prudence required the ships to make an 
ofiing. It "was reluctantly done, leaving the troops on 
shore, a part of them in possession of Fort Clark, and 
the rest bivouacked on the beach near the place of land- 
ing, about two miles north of the forts. 

At eight o'clock next morning, the fleet having ap- 
proached as near as the depth of water would permit, 
the firing upon Fort Hatteras was renewed, first by the 
Susquehannah, and, in a few minutes, the fire of the 
entire fleet was concentrated upon that fort, which, for 
near half an hour, failed to reply, and after that its 
shots all fell short. 

A large steamer came down the sound with reinforce- 
ments for the fort, but was prevented from landing by 
Captain Johnson, of the Coast Guard, who, with two 
guns that had been landed, and a 6 -pounder found on 
shore, had constructed a sand battery, from which he 
opened fire upon the steamer, compelling her to retire. 

The bombardment from the fleet continued without 
intermission till half-past eleven o'clock, when our shells 
began to range accurately upon the bomb-proof, where 
they were deposited with rapidity, and one of them 
actually passed down the ventilator into a room next to 
the magazine, where some three hundred terrified 



CAPTUEE OF FORT HATTERAS. 99 

Eebels had taken refuge from tlie bursting shells; but, 
fortunately for them, this unwelcome visitor failed to 
explode. 

At this stage of imminent danger and great terror 
and excitement in the fort, a white flag was displayed 
in token of surrender; when our land forces under 
Colonel Weber, and those at Fort Clark, with loud 
shouts, started up the beach and were met by a flag of 
truce, and a signal was at the same time made for the 
flag-ship to cease firing. 

General Butler, who was proceeding on board the 
propeller Fanny for the purpose of landing the rest of 
the troops, passed over the bar of the inlet into the 
channel just as the white flag appeared at the fort, and 
the Kebel steamer Winslow, with a large Secession force 
on board, which she had been prevented from landing, 
escaped up the sound, a shot from the Fanny failing to 
reach her. 

General Butler then sent Lieutenant Crosby on shore 
to demand the meaning of the white flag. The boat 
soon returned bringing Mr. Wiegel, Avith the following 
note from the commandant of the fort : 

'' Memorandmn. Flag-of&cer Samuel Barron, C. S. 
Navy, offers to surrender Fort Hatteras, with all the 
arms and munitions of war ; the of&cers allowed to go 
out with side arms, the men, without arms, to retire. 

"S. Barrox, 
'' Commanding naval defence, Va. and N. C. 

''Fort Hatteras, August 29, 1861." 

He also sent, at the same time, a verbal communica- 
tion purporting "that he had in the fort 715 men, and 
1,000 more within an hour's call, but that he was anx- 
ious to spare the effusion of blood." General Butler 
replied as follows : 



100 CAPTURE OF FORT IIATTERAS. 

" Meraorandiim. Benjamin F. Butler, Major-General 
United States Army, commanding, in reply to tlie com- 
munication of Samnel Barron, commanding the forces 
at Fort Hatteras, cannot admit the terms proposed. 
The terms offered are these — fall capitulation ; the offi- 
cers and men to be treated as prisoners of war. No 
other terms admissible. Commanding officers to meet 
on board the flag-ship Minnesota, to arrange details, 

''Aufjusi2^, 1861." 

Lieutenant Crosby returned in three-quarters of an 
hour, bringing with him Captain Barron, Major An- 
drews, and Colonel Martin, of the Eebel forces, who 
informed General Butler that they accepted the terms 
proposed by him, and had come to surrender them- 
selves and their commands as prisoners of war. The 
General replied, that as the expedition Avas formed of 
the army and navy, the surrender must be made on 
board the flag-ship, to Flag-officer Sringham, as well as 
to himself. They then went on board the Minnesota, 
where articles of capitulation were signed. 

The surrender was in conformity with General But- 
ler's proposal, unconditional, saving the stipulation that 
the officers and men should receive the treatment due 
to prisoners of war. 

The capture comprised Forts Hatteras and Clarke, 
35 cannon, 1,000 stand of arms, five stands of colors, a 
quantity of ammunition, hospital stores, two schooners, 
one loaded with tobacco, and the other with provisions, 
one brig loaded with cotton, two light-boats, two surf- 
boats, 45 officers, several being of high rank, and 670 
privates ; the Rebels admitting a loss of 8 killed and 
35 wounded. On our part there was no casualty what- 
ever worthy of notice. This was owing mainly to our 



CAPTURE OF FORT HATTERAS. 101 

ships being for the most part out of range of their 
guns. The official report of the Rebel Major Andrews 
describes the firing from the fleet as being tremendous. 
He sajs : " The shower of shell in half an hour became 
literally tremendous, as we had falling into and imme- 
diately around the works, not less, on an average, than 
ten each minute; and the sea being smooth, the firing 
was remarkably accurate. One officer counted twenty- 
eight shells as falling so as to damage us, in one minute, 
and several others counted twenty in a minute. ^ * * 
For three hours and twenty minutes Fort Hatteras re- 
sisted a storm of shells, perhaps more terrible than ever 
fell upon any other works. ^ •» ^ One shell had 
fallen into the room adjoining the magazine, and the 
magazine was reported on fire." 

Colonel Martin, who was in command at Fort Clark, 
says of the first day's operations, that Fort Clark was 
exposed to a "flood of shells," which poured upon it 
and the skirts of the adjacent woods for several hours, 
which " fire was promptly returned, until every charge 
of powder and every primer was exhausted, when a 
retreat to Fort Hatteras was ordered." 

The troops having all been landed. General Butler 
took a formal surrender of the forts, with all the men 
and munitions of Avar ; inspected the troops, to see that 
all the arms had been properly surrendered, marched 
them out, and embarked them on board the Adelaide ; 
and march his own troops into the Fort, and raised the 
United States flag upon it, amid the cheers of the troops 
and a salute of tliirteen guns, which had been shotted 
by the enemy. 

In view of the great strength of Fort Hatteras, and its 
importance as the key to the Albemarle, General Butler 



102 MAJOR-GENEEAL IRWIN m'DOWELL. 

held a consultation witli Flag- Officer Stringliam and 
Commander Stehvagen, when it was determined to hold 
possession of it. 

General Bntler thereupon left Colonel Hawkins, with 
the troops, in charge, and re- embarked the regulars and 
marines. 

The prisoners were also embarked on the Minnesota, 
and all the necessary arrangements having been made 
Commodore Stringham, leaving the steamers Monticello 
and Pawnee inside the channel, in a position to com- 
mand all approaches to the forts by the Sound, sailed 
from the inlet on the 30th of August, and arrived at 
Kew York Harbor on the 2d of September, where he 
was greeted with every demonstration of joy. 

General Butler sailed on the Adelaide, Commander 
Stelwagen, with the wounded prisoners for Annapolis, 
and arrived at Washington city on the 1st of Septem- 
ber, where at evening, he was serenaded at the National 
Hotel by a military band, and when he appeared was 
greeted with much enthusiam. 

The ships of the fleet proceeded, some of them to 
their blockading stations, others returned to Fortress 
Monroe and other points, as directed. Thus ended suc- 
cessfully the Hatteras expedition, its results being of 
the highest importance. 



Major-General Irwin McDowell, of Ohio, was a 
graduate of West Point, of the class of 1838. He was 
twenty-third in a class of forty-five, of which Beaure- 
gard was second. He was promoted by brevet for 
gallantry at Buena Vista. He was in command of the 
Army of the Potomac at the first battle of Bull Run, of 
which disaster he made a very candid report. 



THE FAITHFUL DOG OF SHILOH. 103 

STOEY XXII. 



THE FAITHFUL DOG OF SHILOH. 

On Shiloh's hot-contested field. 

The Eebels were constrained to yield : 

Yet solemn truth requires to tell, 

There many a Union hero fell. 

There new-made mounds of earth disclosed 

Where many a gallant one reposed ; 

And one there was in quiet nook, 

That might not, after, be mistook : 

'Twas by his faithful comrades made. 

And there Lieutenant Pfieff was laid. 

For twelve long days since first he fell, 

His faithful dog did guard it well. 

^ ^ ^ * * 

From far off Illinoian plains, 
His widowed wife sought his remains. 
She came : — the faithful dog approached. 
To learn what stranger-foot encroached — 
Beheld her — and with eager mood. 
Entreated her, as best he could, 
To follow him without delay, 
While he should lead the devious way. 
He led, she followed o'er the ground. 
Until at length they reached the mound 
That he so long had guarded well. 
Since that sad day his master fell. 
Soon was the imprisoning clay removed. 
And soon she clasped the form she loved. 
As homeward she that form conveyed, 
That faithful dog his best essayed. 
At consolation and relief, 
By sympathizing in her grief, 
Evincing more than tongue could tell, 
His sad lament for what befel. 



104 HOW A SCOUT LOST HIS BREECHES. 

STOEY XXIII. 



HOW A SCOUT LOST HIS BREECHES. 

The "Jessie Scouts" will no doubt occupy a page in 
the thrilling tales yet to be told. This company of 
youthful but hardy, circumspect^ and fearless adventur- 
ers, was constantly employed for some dangerous duty ; 
and their captain, an agile young fellow named Car- 
penter, was never better pleased than when engaged in 
some desperate affair, whether alone or accompanied by 
some of his men. One of the latter, S. J. Hale, lately 
returned from an expedition with a very lugubrious 
countenance, superinduced by the result of an adven- 
ture thus narrated : 

Mounted on a swift horse, he was carrying dispatches, 
secreted on his person, to a certain post in this State, 
(Missouri,) and was somewhere in the vicinity of Wa- 
verly. He had ridden some ten miles, and was very 
disconsolate for want of an adventure, for the boys 
cannot sit patiently in their saddles if something stir- 
ring does not turn up occasionally. He made up his 
mind to stop the first suspicious looking individual 
he should meet, and had not long to wait. 

An independent Secesh came along on a horse, carry- 
ing a shot gun and whistling "Dixie." Hale presented 
his revolver at the fellow and ordered him to dismount, 
which he did. The scout took possession of horse and 
gun, and saw the Kebel vanish in the woods. It was 
after this that the joke occurred which made poor 
Hale a wiser if not a happier man. 

Lost in reverie he rode along, and unconsciously 
began to whistle Yankee Doodle, but had scarcely gone 
two bars of the tune, when out sprang from the woods 



HOW A SCOUT LOST HIS BEEECHES. 105 

a large and fierce-looking man, wlio, qnick as thonglit, 
took a deadly aim at the yonng adventurer, within a 
few feet of liis breast. 

The scout was at his wit's end in a moment, and saw 
that he could not escape. To draw his revolver would 
have been madness, so he made no movement, but 
asked "Who are you?" 

The Rebel's answer was, " I may be a ghost, but alive 
or dead, you can't fool this child; you're a Lincoln 
horde ; come off that horse." 

Off came Hale, and into the Rebel's hands soon went 
his pistols. The poor felloAV thought he Avould now be 
allowed to go, but he was startled with the hoarse order 
of the Rebel — " Off' with them boots !" and off came 
the boots. 

" Off with them pants or die !" said the terrible Se- 

cesh, and off came the breeches. It didn't take the 

Rebel long to exchange his ragged habilaments for the 

sound ones which he had secured, and mounting his 

newly acquired horse he said, "Farewell, old codger; 

you're played out. Your company don't suit, and your 

suit is gone." A very quaint remark, but painfully 

true. Poor Hale's only remark was in the language of 

an old or new play, we don't remember which : 

" Done brown, by lieaven ! 
Eet this pernicious hour 
Stand accursed in the calendar ! 
Somebody catch me. I feel very faint. 
I'm very sick. Let me go home and die in comfort !" 

The last thing Hale remembered of the Rebel was 

hearing him loudly sing : 

"Tn Dixie's land I'll take my stand. 
Wish you were in Dixie." 

Over the subsequent travels of the breechesless young 
man we delicately throw a veiL 



106 CAPTURE OF PORT ROYAL. 



STORY XXIY. 



CAPTURE OF PORT ROYAL, SOUTH CAROLINA. 

On Tuesday, October 29tli, 1861, the fleet, under 
command of Flag- Officer S. F. Dupont, sailed from 
Hampton Eoads, numbering, with the army transports, 
fifty vessels. It was, in consequence of the delay in 
the arrival of some of the transports intended for 
conveying the troops of General T. W. Sherman's 
command, which constituted a principal feature of the 
expedition, that its departure was not effected sooner. 

It was calculated that the passage to Port Royal 
would be effected in five days, at most ; but, in conse- 
quence of adverse winds, and a perilous storm on the 
day and night of the 1st of November, in which the 
fleet was almost entirely dispersed, and two or three of 
the transports lost, (the men, however, all being saved, 
excepting seven,) the fleet did not arrive at Port Royal 
until the 4th of November, and then in straggling 
order. 

Commodore Dupont says: "The fleet was utterly 
dispersed, and, on Saturday morning, one sail only was 
in sight from the deck of the Wabash. On the follow- 
ing day the weather moderated, and the steamers and 
ships began to re-appear. As the vessels re-joined, 
reports came in of disasters. I expected to hear of 
many ; but, when the severity of the gale and the 
character of the vessels are considered, we have only 
cause for great thankfulness." 

It Avas on Monday, at eight o'clock in the morning, 
that the Wabash (the flag-ship) anchored off' the bar, 



CAPTURE OF PORT ROYAL. 107 

with some twenty-five vessels in company and many 
more lieavins: in sisrht. 

All the buoys and aids to navigation had been 
removed by the enemy, but the efficiency and skill of 
Commander Davis, the fleet captain, and Mr. Boutelle, 
assistant of the Coast Survey, with the steamer Vixen, 
soon found and buoyed out the channel, so that by 
three o'clock, P. M., the lighter transports and the gun- 
boats commenced passing the bar, and before dark, 
were securely anchored in the roadstead of Port Eoyal. 

On Tuesday morning, a reconnoissance in force was 
made by the gunboats Octavia and Seneca and the 
steamship Flag, which drew the fire of the batteries on 
Hilton Head and Bay Point, sufficiently to show that 
the fortifications were w^orks of strength and scien- 
tificall}^ constructed. 

Captain Davis and Mr. Boutelle having reported 
water enough for the AYabash to enter, she crossed the 
bar in safety, closely followed by the frigate Susque- 
hanna, the Atlantic, Vanderbilt, and other transports of 
deep draft, running through that portion of the fleet 
already in. 

The safe passage of the Wabash over the bar was 
hailed with gratifying cheers from the crowded vessels. 
She anchored, and immediately commenced preparing 
for action. But the delay occasioned by the planting 
of buoys, to designate shoals to be avoided, rendered it 
too late, in the judgment of Commodore Dupont, before 
it was possible to leave anchorage with the attacking 
squadron. The next day the wind blew a gale from 
the southward and AYcstward, and the attack was 
unavoidably postponed. 

At nine o'clock, A. M., November 7th, the flag-ship 



108 CAPTUEE OF PORT ROYAL. 

made the signal to fall in and form in order of battle, 
the Wabash leading the main column, composed of the 
following vessels: Wabash, Susquehanna, Mohicon, 
Seminole, Pawnee, Unadilla, Ottawa, Pembina and 
Yandalia. The starboard column w^as composed of the 
following vessels: Bienville, Seneca, Curlew, Penguin 
and Augusta. 

At ten o'clock, A. M., the batteries on each side of 
the river opened fire on the head of the column, from 
long range heavy guns, which the flag-ship promptly 
replied to, and soon the action became general along 
the whole line, as the ships came within range. 

At 10 : 30 the flag- ship winded the line, turning to 
the southward, when she engaged, for a few minutes, 
three Rebel steamers, within long range, up the river, 
which were soon put to flight, when she again pro- 
ceeded in the order of battle down within close range 
of Fort Walker, on Hilton Head, when the firing 
became very spirited on both sides. After passing the 
batteries, the line was again winded in a circle, during 
which time our men kept up a steady fire. 

" I kept under way," says the Commodore," and made 
three turns, though I passed five times between the 
forts. I had a flanking division of five ships to watch, 
and old Tatnall too, who had eight small, swift steamers 
ready to pounce in upon any of ours, should they be 
disabled. I could get none of my big frigates u.p." 

The previous reconnoissance had satisfied all with the 
superiority of Fort Walker, and to that the Commodore 
directed his special efforts, engaging it at 800 yards, 
and afterward at 600. But the plan of attack brought 
the squadron near enough to Fort Beauregard to re- 



CAPTUKE OF PORT EOYAL. 109 

ceive its fire, and tlie ships were frequently figliting the 
batteries on both sides at the same time. 

A well directed fire from the heavy guns of our gun 
boats and small steamers, soon drove the enemy from 
his defences, and so concluded a well contested fight, 
by a glorious victory. The defeat of the enemy ter 
minated in utter rout and confusion. Their quarters 
and encampments were abandoned, without an attempt 
to carry away either private or public property. 

At half past two o'clock the American ensign was 
hoisted on the flag staff of Fort A¥alker, and on the 
next morning at sunrise, on that of Fort Beauregard. 
The ground over which the Kebels had fled was found 
strewn with the arms of private soldiers, and even the 
ofl&cers had retired in too much haste to be impeded 
with the incumbrance of their swords. 

Landing the marines and a company of seamen, the 
commodore took possession of the abandoned ground, 
and held the forts on Hilton Head, till the arrival of 
General Sherman, to whom he transferred their com- 
mand. 

With these forts were captured 43 pieces of cannon, 
most of them being of very heavy calibre, and the most 
improved design. Their sights were found graduated 
at 600 yards. Their rifled guns never missed. An 
80-pounder rifle ball Vv^ent through the mainmast of the 
Wabash, in the very centre, making an awful hole. 
They fought bravely, and their confidence was extreme 
that they could drive away their assailants. 

When the Kebels once broke, the stampede was in- 
tense ; and not a gun was spiked. In truth, says the 
Commodore, I nev^r conceived of such a fire as that 
of this ship, on her second turn, and I am told that its 



110 CAPTURE OF PORT ROYAL. 

effect upon tlie spectators outside of lier was intense. 
I learn that when they saw our flag on shore the troops 
were powerless to cheer, but wept. General Sherman 
was deeply affected, and the soldiers were loud and 
unstinting in their expressions of admiration and grati- 
tude. 

General Sherman says, I consider the performance a 
masterly one, and it ought to have been seen, to be fully 
appreciated. 

After the works were reduced, I took possession of 
them with the land forces. The beautifully constructed 
work on Hilton Head was severely crippled, and many 
of the guns dismounted. Much slaughter had evidently 
been made there, many bodies having been buried in 
the fort, and some twenty or thirty were found a half 
mile distant. 

The island, for many miles, was found strewed with 
the arms, and accoutrements, and baQ^f^asfe of the Eebels, 
which they threw away in their retreat. We also came 
into possession of about forty pieces of ordnance, and a 
large quantity of ammunition and camp equipage. 

Our loss was reported by the Commodore, of&cially, 
at eight killed, and twenty-three wounded. 

The moment General Drayton, the Eebel commander, 
took to his horse, in the panic of the 7th, his 200 ser- 
vants went directly to the Wabash. This was worthy of 
notice as putting down the nonsense that the slaves were 
ready to fight for their masters. — Dupont, et al. 



SKETCH OF GENERAL T. W. SHEEMAN. Ill 

SKETCH OF GEI^EEAL T. W. SHERMAN. 

General T. W. Sherman, commanding the land 
forces of the Port Royal expedition, entered the mili- 
tary service from the State of Rhode Island, and gradu- 
ated at "West Point, in 1836, the eighteenth in his class. 

He was appointed a second lieutenant in the Third 
Artillery on July 1st, 1836 ; assistant commissary of 
subsistence, in March, 1837; first lieutenant of artillery, 
in March, 1838 ; captain, in May, 1846, and a brevet 
major in May, 1848, for '^gallant and meritorious ser- 
vices, at the battle of Buena Vista," on the 23d of 
February, 1847. 

Gardner's Military Dictionary says he was distin- 
guished by his prudence and firmness in preventing a 
war with certain of the Sioux Indians, 1857. 

He was for years in command of light artillery, well 
known as Sherman's Battery, and had always stood 
well, in the estimation of the army, for his skill and 
attainments as an artillerist. 

On the breaking out of the Rebellion, when the new 
regiments were authorized to be added to the army, 
he was appointed a lieutenant- colonel of the Fifth Ar- 
tillery. 

He was among the first appointments of brigadier 
generals of volunteers ; and soon after the battle of 
Bull Run he was assigned to the important duty of 
organizing the land forces of the Port Royal expedition, 
and established his Camp of Instruction at Hempsted, 
Long Island. 

Prior to sailing on the Port Royal expedition, in con- 
sequence of an expected advance of the Rebels, his 
entire force was transferred to Washington. 



112 DEATH OF JOHN A. WASHINGTON. 



STORY XXY 



CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH OF JOHN A. WASHING- 
TON-DESECRATOR OF A NOBLE NAME. 

A CORRESPONDENT of tlie Gazette, writing from 
Cheat Mountain, Ya., says : " I have the pleasure, and 
indeed it is a pleasure, to send you the news of the 
death of John A. Washington, who was killed yester- 
day afternoon, (September 15, 1861,) about seven miles 
south of Elk Water camp. 

" The circumstances were as follows : — In company 
with three other of&cers he was approaching our fortifi- 
cations with a view of making a reconnoissance. Se- 
creted in the bushes by the road-side were a number of 
the 17th Indiana regiment, and, as Washington and his 
companions came up the road, the Indiana boys rose 
from their concealment and fired. Washington fell 
from his horse on the first round, having received 
three bullets, two of which passed entirely through his 
body, entering at the right breast ; and one of the 
others was also hit, but the two remaining rmhurt man- 
aged to get him away by supporting him on his horse. 

" The body of Washington was conveyed to the 
quarters of Colonel AYaggoner. He lived for the space 
of half an hour, and never spoke, save to utter once, 
' 0, my God ! ' The next day his body was sent to the 
Rebel camp under a flag of truce. In the pockets of 
Washington was found one hundred dollars in United 
States gold currency, and a splendid gold watch. His 
dress was new, and of the most elegant make, broad- 
cloth coat and pants, and a white satin vest. His 



PORT ROYAL CONTRABANDS. 113 

sTioulder-straps denoted liim to be a colonel — of one of 
tlie Virginia regiments, I suppose." 

This was the same Washington who lived near Har- 
per's Ferr}^, and figured somewhat as one of the unhurt 
victims of John Brown's raid. In the early stage of 
the war our authorities were so afraid of exasperating 
the Eebels that they strove to subdue them with bul- 
rushes; as Homer's frogs fou.ght the mice. Washing- 
ton's money and watch were therefore taken from the 
captors and restored to his relatives, under cover of a 
flag of truce. 



STOEY XXYI. 



PORT ROYAL CONTRABANDS. 

The negroes, as yet, show few symptoms of vindict- 
iveness : but in two instances they have assisted in the 
capture of their former masters. 

A Mr. Cuthbert, the owner of several large planta- 
tions on St. Helena Island and the main, was caught by 
Captain Falkner with the assistance of his own ne- 
groes. A small reconnoitering party, on the Coosaw 
river, met a boat containing half a dozen blacks and a 
white man, a German. This boat was seized, the blacks 
interrogated — they belonged to Cuthbert, and were 
going to meet him at a neighboring point. 

Captain Falkner took the place of the captured white 
man, (whom he left in the care of his troops,) and or- 
dered the negroes to row him back to tlieir master. 
Another boat, containing a squad of Union men, fol- 



114 POET EOYAL CONTRABANDS. 

lowed at a short distance. It was nearly dnsk, and as 
Falkner approached the place where Cuthbert stood 
waiting his boat, the latter cried out, "Who comes 
there ? " The negroes answered and were recognized. 

Captain Falkner at once jumped ashore with the 
blacks and seized the Eebel. A scuffle ensued, for the 
Southerner was armed, and a large and powerful man, 
Falkner small. The negroes took no part, (they had 
not yet gotten over their awe of a master,) and not till 
the second boat arrived was Cuthbert secured. While 
he was being rowed ofP, a prisoner in his own boat, and 
by his own slaves, they burst out into singing, to the 
tune of one of their own rude hymns, making the ver- 
sicles as they went along : 

" massa a Eebel we row liim to prison, hallelujah. 
Massa no whip me any more, hallelujah. 
We hab no massa now, we free, hallelujah. 
We hab cle yankees dey no run away, hallelujah. 
O ! all our ole massas run away, hallelujah. 
O ! massa gwine to cle prison now, hallelujah." 

Cuthbert, who had come to the island for the purpose 
of preventing the escape of his slaves, was a lieutenant 
of the boat — a patrol established for protecting the 
coast at once against the Nationalists and the negroes. 
He had, in conversation with Captain Falkner, scrupu- 
lously maintained that the negroes loved their masters, 
and wanted no freedom ; but when the exulting chants 
were sung in his hearing, he acknowledged that so long 
as the Union forces remained, the South Carolinians 
were in danger from their slaves. He was sent North 
a prisoner. 



STOKY OF THE WRECKS. 115 



STORY XXYII. 



STORY OF THE WRECKS. 

The following account of tlie fate of tlie wrecked 
transports, during tlie terrible gale of tlie 1st of Kovem- 
ber, 1861, condensed from the correspondence of the 
Tribune, is deemed a proper appendage to the preced- 
ing account of the capture of Port Rojal : 

As our fleet slowly straggled into the harbor of 
rendezvous, after that most fearful tempest, and as we 
noted the continued absence of one after another of our 
noble vessels, we reluctantly made up our unwilling 
minds to the sad belief that at least six of our smaller 
steamers had gone down : the ferry-boats Ethan Allen 
and Commodore Perry, the transports Union, Peerless, 
Governor and Belvidere. 

There was also much anxiety about the Ocean Ex- 
press, though as she was a large and staunch sailing 
ship, it was hoped that she had merely been blown out 
of her course, and would weather the gale and yet 
make her appearance. 

This latter vessel was, to a great extent, the right 
arm of the expedition, for she carried all the heavy 
cannon with which it was proposed to make our 
Palmetto foothold good. Upon the same ship also, by 
a strange oversight of the chief of ordnance (Captain 
McXutt), had been placed the entire stock of gun- 
powder with which it had been intended to fill the 
magazines, for the use of the siege-trains that might be 
organized from Port Royal for the benefit of Charles- 
ton or Savannah. 



116 STOEY OF THE WEECKS. 

Should the Ocean Express be lost; the army Avould 
be so crippled as to be almost powerless for offensive 
operations, until new supplies could be sent. If such a 
great loss should come to the knowledge of the enemjr, 
it was «asy to see what advantage might be taken of it. 
The act of loading all the stores of such an indispen- 
sable nature on a single ship, was one so strange as 
hardly to be credible of an old and experienced of&cer, 
and the condemnation of the mistake was as universal 
as was the feverish anxiety regarding the fate of the 
ship. This strange proceeding was, however, subse- 
quently accounted for when, on a medical examination, 
held by request of his friends, the officer was pro- 
nounced insane. 

The anxiety was less concerning the other vessels 
than perhaps it otherwise would have been, from the 
fact that, with one exception, they carried no men 
beside their OAvn crcAvs. On board the Governor, how- 
ever, were Major John G. Eeynold's battalion of 
marines, 340 men, all told. 

The Peerless was an English steamer, of small size, 
and had on board 87 live beef-cattle, for the use of the 
army. 

The Ethan Allen and Commodore Perry were two 
ferry-boats, formerly emploj^ed on the Williamsburg 
ferries, and were of the same pattern and size as those 
that ply on the East river. It is a matter for surprise 
that they were ever deemed adequate to weather Hat- 
teras in a November gale. However, they were to 
attempt the passage, and were intended to be employed 
in landing troops, after the fleet had reached its destina- 
tion. 

The Belvidero had on board horses and commissary 



STOKY OF THE WEECKS. 117 

stores ; and tlae Union had also a few head of cattle, and 
quartermasters' stores. 

The fleet began to arrive in Port Eoyal harbor on 
Sunday night, but no one of the above missing vessels 
was seen until Thursday morning, when the Ocean 
Express came in, to the great relief of all. 

Meanwhile, the most doleful accounts had reached us 
of the others. It was asserted that the Governor had 
gone down with 200 marines ; this number, by degrees, 
came doAvn to 20, at which point it remained till some 
of the rescued men arrived, to set the matter right. 
The other missing vessels were all believed to have 
gone do-wn. 

It was afterward ascertained, however, that the 
Union went ashore on the coast of North Carolina, and 
all her crew were saved, though 73 soldiers were made 
prisoners, there being a few in her. The Belvidere, 
after such a struggle with the storm as few ships ever 
live to tell of, came safely out. The two ferry-boats, 
the Ethan Allen and Commodore Perry, finding they 
could not weather the gale, put back for Fortress 
Monroe, which place they finally reached. The Pear- 
less and Governor both went down, under the follomng 
circumstances : 

The steamer Governor started from Fortress Monroe 
with the rest of the fleet, on Tuesday, October 29th, and 
proceeded pleasantly enough tmtil she encountered the 
gale, which began on Thursday night, and which soon 
increased to a tempest. 

On Friday she was struck by a number of heavy 
seas, which made crashing work with every thing on 
deck. Beyond carrying away the deck-load, and 
smashing up some of the lighter wood-work, no serious 



118 STOEY OF THE WEECKS. 

damage was done, until tliree, P. M., Friday; when 
seven or eiglit terrible seas, in quick succession, struck 
her, and broke her hog-braces. 

In a few minutes another sea carried her smoke-stack 
overboard, thus, for the moment, adding the terrible 
danger of fire to the perils of the winds and waves. At 
eight, P. M., the steam-pipe burst ; and at two, A. M., 
on Saturday, the packing of the cylinder blew out, thus 
com])letely disabling the engines. 

At four, A. M., the rudder-chains broke, leaving her, 
for a time, totally unmanageable. The tiller was pre- 
sently rigged, but in a few minutes the rudder-head 
broke short off, depriving the vessel of all her steer- 
ing apparatus, and leaving her a helpless wreck on the 
water, in one of the hardest gales that ever blew on this 
coast. 

After a few hours of agonizing suspense, during 
which, all on board made up their minds that death 
awaited themi, speedy and certain, they spoke the gun- 
boat Isaac Smith, which had been attracted by the 
Governor's signals of distress, and the bark Young 
Eover. Both promised to stay by her; but in the 
tremendous sea then running, neither could render the 
slightest assistance. The Rover, however, cheered their 
sinking hearts, by telling them that a large frigate was 
bearing down to their relief 

The men went into ecstacies of extravagant joy when 
the frigate hove in sight. She proved to be the Sabine, 
and Captain Ringgold promised to do every thing in 
his power for their aid — a promise he most nobly 
redeemed. 

By order of Captain Ringgold, the two ships were 
fastened together by two powerful hawsers. The Sabine 



STORY OF THE WRECKS. 119 

then veered out chain enono;h to brins: her stern within 

o o 

thirty feet of that of the Governor. Tavo heavy spars 
were then ric^ored from the stern of the Sabine, in the 
direction of the sinking ship, and were there made 
securely fast. 

The spars were projected nearly over the bows of the 
Governor, but they rose and fell with each tremendous 
swell, so that it would have been hopeless for any per- 
son to cross from one ship to the other by crawling 
along the spars ; this, however, had not been intended, 
bu.t a safer plan was adopted. 

From the ends of the spars were lowered strong 
ropes, rigged to run easily through pulley-blocks; at 
the end of the rope which dropped on board the 
Governor a running loop was made, and the crew of 
the Sabine manned the other end. All things being 
ready, the loop Avas made fast under the arms of a man, 
the crew of the Sabine gave a quick run aft, and in less 
time than it takes to tell it, the man was raised in the 
air and swuno; on board the frio-ate. 

Thirty men were thus saved when both hawsers broke 
and the ships separated. The Governor was then brought 
close under the quarter of the Sabine, and about forty 
more leapt to her deck, and the others, all, excepting 
a corporal and six men, were finally assisted on board. 
Of those lost, four were washed over, in trying to cross 
on the hawsers from ship to ship ; one was crushed be- 
tween the ships, and the other three slipped overboard 
and were drowned. They saved all their muskets but 
twenty; 10,000 cartridges and some clothing were lost. 
The Peerlesss was a small steamer, chartered to be 
used in the shallow Avaters of the Southern rivers and 
creek. She had on board 87 beef-cattle, was caught in 



120 A GALLANT DEED AND CHIVALROUS RETURN. 

in tlie gale, and made signal of distress, wlien the Star of 
the South ran down to her aid, and going too close, ran 
into the Peerless, doing her much damage. The cap- 
tain then lightened the ship by throwing the cattle over- 
board ; but the ship continuing to sink, he was obliged 
to leave her. The crew were all taken off by the 
Mohican. The captain was the last to leave her — she 
went down within an hour. 



STORY XXYIII. 



KOMANCE OF THE WAR— A GALLANT DEED AND CHIVAL 
ROUS RETURN. 

In a movement of Stoneman's cavalry, in May, 1863, 
the advance was led by Lieutenant Paine, of the 1st 
Maine cavalry. Being separated by a considerable dis- 
tance from the main body, he unexpectedly encountered 
a superior force of Eebel cavalry, and his whole party 
were taken prisoners. They were hurried off as rap- 
idly as possible to get them out of the way of our 
advancing force, and, in crossing a rapid deep stream, 
Lieutenant Henry, commanding the Rebel force, was 
swept off his horse. 

As none of his men seemed to think or care anything 
about saving him, his prisoner. Lieutenant Paine, leaped 
off his horse, seized the drowning man by the collar, 
swam ashore with him, and saved his life, thus literally 
capturing his captor. He was sent to Richmond with 
the rest of the prisoners, and the facts being made 
known to General Fitzhugh Lee, he wrote a statement 
of them to General Winder, the Provost Marshal of 



121 

Riclimond, who ordered the instant release of Lieuten- 
ant Paine, without even parole, promise or condition; 
and, we presume, with the compliments of the Confed- 
eracy, and he 'arrived soon after in Washington. 

This act of generosity, as well as justice, must com- 
mand our highest admiration. There is some hope for 
men who can behave in such a manner. But the 
strangest part of the story is yet to come. Lieutenant 
Paine, on arriving in Washington, learned that the offi- 
cer, whose life he had thus gallantly saved, had since 
been taken prisoner by our forces, had just and been 
confined in the Old Capitol prison. The last we heard 
of him he was on his way to General Martindale's 
headquarters to obtain a pass to visit his beneficiary 
and benefactor. 

Such are the vicissitudes of war. We could not help 
thinking, when we heard this story, of the profound 
observation of Mrs. Gump : " Sich is life, vich likewise 
is the hend of hall things hearthly." We leave it to 
casuists to determine whether, when these two gallant 
soldiers meet on the battle-field, they should fight like 
enemies, or embrace like Christians? For our part, we 
do not believe that their swords will be any the less 
sharp, nor their zeal any the less determined, for this 
haphazard exchange of soldierly courtesy. 



STORY XXIX 



THE "CONTRABAND'S" MISTAKE. 

While General McClellan commanded our army in 
Western Virginia, a stout male " contraband " suddenly 



122 THE contraband's mistake. 

disappeared from liis master in an inexplicable manner. 
He was afterward discovered harmlessly pursuing the 
avocation of cook in the camp of the 19th Ohio. 

Sambo was suddenly confronted with his master, in 
the General's presence. 

Quoth our legal military friend, Lieutenant- Colonel 
Key, " What's your name, boy? " 

" Pompey Johnson, sah," replied Sambo. 

" Where are you from ? " continued the Colonel. 

" Johnsontown, Cumb'land County, State ob Ohio," 
said the negro, with sublime audacity, 

" Do you know that man ? " asked the Colonel, desig- 
nating Sambo's master. 

The darkey eyed his master, coolly, from head to 
foot, as if he was prejoaring to swear to his inches, and, 
without winking, responded — 

" No, sah — dun' 'no him ; neber seed him afore — 
stranga to me, sah." 

'^Why, you rascal," interposed his master, "I raised 
you — bought you when you were nine years old ; every 
body in town knoAVs you're my nigger." 

" Dun' 'no you, sah ! Stranga to me, sah ! I'se free 
cullud pussun, sah! Cum from 'hio, sah, wid the so- 
gers." 

The neighbors identified Pompey as the claimant's 
chattel, and he was remanded to servitude, when he 
suddenly regained his consciousness, and retired obedi- 
ently. He had been captured from his master, a Seces 
sionist, by some of the lads of tlie 19th Ohio, who 
desired him for a cook, and had instructed him to play 
the part he assumed. The darkey, however, mistook 
th.e name of the county he was to hail from, substituting 
Cumberland for Trumbull. 



BATTLE OF CHESNABURG. 123 



STOEY XXX. 



BATTLE OF CHESNABURG. 

The affair commonly known as tlie "Battle of Clies 
naburg," AvHch occurred in the Kanawha campaign of 
1861, is deserving of a place in onr war history. 
General Cox's division had been moving from place 
to place, and finally encamped in the vicinity of Spiral 
Knob. No enemy in force had for some time appeared 
and the army was eager for a fight. 

One evening a celebrated scout from a neighboring 
State went out, and had proceeded about seven miles, 
when he came upon the pickets of the enemy. Crawl- 
ing up to the encampment, he alarmed the sentinels, 
who gave chase, but finally eluding them, he returned 
to camp with the joyful tidings that several thousand 
Secessionists were encamped in a cornfield, about seven 
miles off. 

Upon receipt of the news, the countenances of the 
of&cers and men beamed with delight at the prospect 
of a fight. It was at once decided that the Secesh 
should be attacked the same night, and the colonel of 
the regiment to which the scout belonged claimed the 
honor of leading the attack, as one of his men had 
discovered the enemy. 

That evening, at dress parade, the order was read to 
the attacking force to maxch at a certain hour. The 
gallant colonel, not wishing that any should be forced 
to fight who were disinclined, and that he should not 
be embarrassed by any cowardly spirits, addressed his 
men, telling them that all such as were afraid could 



124 BATTLE OF CHESNABURG. 

remain behind. Tlie men were worked up to a good 
fighting pitch, and when the hour for marching came^ 
all were found in their places, 

The regiment moved oft] each man determined to 
win or die, and was followed by a supporting force, at 
a proper distance. Silently, they marched for several 
miles, with the determined tread of men who were 
resolved on victory or an honorable death. The road 
was rugged and crooked, winding around mountains 
and through ravines, as only mountain roads can. 

When near the camp of the vile Secesh, General M., 
who had command of the whole force, rode to the front 
and engaged in conversation with the colonel command- 
ing the advance. Having attained the summit of a 
mountain ridge, which gave a view of the opposite 
hills, they soon espied the pickets of the enemy. The 
lines were formed and everything put in readiness for a 
charge, when General M., raising himself in his stir- 
rups, exclaimed: "Why, Colonel, those are my 'pichets ! 
and, hy golly, that is. my camj) f^ 

The effect of this announcement may be better 
imaoined than described. Just think of two or three 

o 

thousand men being roused from their slumbers at 
midnight, marched seven miles over one of the worst 
roads in creation, and then being brought up before 
their own camp ! 

The matter was finally explained. The road they had 
followed ran in an easterly or southeasterly direction 
from the camp, then winding round among the moun- 
tains, ran directly west^ and came out into the road at 
the south end of the encampment. The scout had also 
followed the same road, and came very near being 
caught by his own friends, in his own camp. 



FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP. 125 

This ludicrous affair has been appropriately christ- 
ened, and will hereafter be known, in the Cheat Moun- 
tain region, as the Battle of Chesnaburg. 



STOEY XXXI. 



RUNNING THE GAUNTLET OF FORTS JACKSON AND ST. 
PHILIP. 

The expedition for the capture of New Orleans, under 
Major-General Benjamin F. Butler of the land forces, 
and Flag Officer Farragut of the naval forces, and Cap- 
tain D. D. Porter of the mortar flotilla, beino- in the 
lower Mississippi, on the morning of the 17th. of April, 
1862, passed up and anchored on the west shore. The 
advance vessels were about a mile below a chain barrier, 
which the enemy had stretched across the river on hulks, 
but which proved not very difficult of removal. 

The purpose of the Commodore was to bombard the 
forts, Jackson and St. Philips, from about half a mile 
above our position, the forts being distinctly visible 
from our mast heads. 

The hulls of the mortar boats were screened by 
woods, and the masts Avere disguised with evergreens, 
a precaution adopted by the sailors, so that from 
the forts they were scarcely distinguishable from the 
trees. 

Fire rafts were sent down by the rebels, designed to 
destroy our fleet, but were prevented b}^ the precaution- 
ary measures of Captain Porter. 

Failing to reduce the forts after six days of incessant 



126 RUNNING THE GAUNTLET OF 

fire, having commenced on the 18th, Flag Officer Farra- 
gut determmed to attempt then- passage with his whole 
fleet; except that portion of it under the immediate com- 
mand of Captain Porter, known as the mortar fleet, 
being the Harriet Lane, Westfield, Owasco, Clifton and 
Marine, also the Jackson, towing the Portsmouth. This 
flotilla was to remain below, so that when the Commo- 
dore should have eflected his passage above the forts, 
the enemy would be placed between two fires, with his 
supplies from New Orleans cut ofij thus rendering his 
surrender merely a question of time. 

About eleven o'clock P. M. of the 23d, the Itasca 
signaled that the chain w^as clear, and that the fleet 
could proceed when ready. The night was moderately 
dark, and the mortar vessels kept vip an incessant roar. 

The first division of the fleet was lying along the 
right bank of the river, the second division was formed 
on the left bank, while the third division was in the 
centre of the lines. The whole Avere to sail in the fol- 
lowing order : 

l.s^ Division, Flag Officer Farragut commanding. 

Hartford, Com. Wainright, Brooklyn, Capt. T. T. Craven. 

Richmond, Com. Alden. 

2d Division, Capt. Bailey commandiiig. 
Cayuga, Lieut. Harrison. -Verona, Com. C. L. Boggs. 
Pensacola, Capt. Morris. Kalahdin, Lieut. Preble. 

Mississippi, Com. Smith, Kneodout, Com. Ransom. 

Oneida, Com. J. P. Lee. Wissaliickon, Lieut. A. A. Smith. 

3c? Division, Capt. Bell commanding. 
Sciota, Capt. H. H. Bell. Jtasca 

Iroquois. Winona, Lieut. Edw. Nichols. 

Pinola. Kennebec. 

At one o'clock A. M. on the 21:th, all hands were 



FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP. 127 

called, hammocks stowed, and everytliing put in order 
to weigh anchor at two o'clock. 

At two o'clock two red lights at the Hartford's mizen 
peak annonnced the time to get under way. The second 
division from some cause did not start at the signal, and 
the whole were delayed half an hour. 

At three o'clock the moon arose, and a silvery path 
was bright before us upon the placid waters ; and in 
thirty minu.tes we were gliding over it swiftly to the 
conflict ; while the signal fires of the enemy, enhancing 
the lunar light, rendered ou.r approach distinctly visible 
to them. 

The advance column, led by the gunboat Cayuga, 
Captain Bailey, approaching Fort St. Philip at a quarter 
to 4 o'clock, both forts opened their fire. At ten min-" 
utes to four o'clock, having brought her guns to bear, 
the Cayuga opened fire with grape and shrapnel on Fort 
St. Philip. At four o'clock she passed the line of the 
fort, and encountered eleven gunboats above. 

Meanwhile the rest of the fleet were not idle ; the 
Oneida and Yerona coming up, pitched gallantly into 
the fight. The flag ship Hartford joined in the fight at 
five minutes to four, replying to Fort Jackson with a 
nine inch shell, soon followed by rapid broadside firing, 
the other vessels of the division following suit ; while 
to add to the deafening noise the mortar boats inces- 
santly belched forth their destructive missiles with con- 
tinuous roar. 

Shot, shell, grape and canister filled the air. Steadily 
we steamed on, giving them shell; the forts firing rifled 
shot and shell, ten inch, columbiads forty -two, thirtj^-two, 
and twenty-four pounder balls ; and at the same time 
thirteen steamers and the floating battery Louisiana, 



128 EUNNING THE GAUNTLET OF 

were pouring into and around us a hailstorm of iron, 
perfectly indescribable. 

Their steamers were crowded Avith troops who fired 
volleys of rifle balls at us with but little effect. One 
of them neared us, containing some 200 men, when our 
howitzer opened on her, and Captain Proome, of the 
Marine Corps, also opened upon her with two nine-inch 
guns, when was heard an explosion, terrific yells, a 
careen, and that fellow was done for. 

The Yerona sunk six of them in succession, and was 
herself sunk by a ram. The Cayuga, as before stated, 
encountered a fleet of them, which she succeeded in 
discomfitting, either sinking, capturing, firing, or driv- 
ing them ashore. At half past five o'clock, having 
been under a terrific fire for an hour and twenty min- 
utes, the Hartford passed the forts badly cut up, and 
saw several Eebel steamers which had encountered the 
Cayuga, and other boats of the advance, in flames along 
each side of the river. The Hartford passed up to the 
quarantine, which had previously surrendered to Cap- 
tain Bailey, of the Cayuga. 

In the afternoon, Commander Farragut dispatched 
Captain Boggs, of the Yerona, to Captain Porter, with 
the following letter : 

" Dear Porter : We had a rough time of it, as 
Boggs will tell you ; but, thank God, the number of 
killed and wounded was very small, considering. This 
ship had two killed, and eight wounded. We destroyed 
the ram in a single combat between him and the old 
Mississippi ; but the ram backed out when he saw the 
the Mississippi coming at him so rampantly, and he 
dodged her and ran on shore, Avhereupon Smith put 
two or three broadsides throudi him and knocked him 



FORTS JACKSON AND ST. PHILIP. 129 

all to pieces. The ram pnsliecl a fire-raft on to me, and 
in trying to avoid it I ran the ship on shore. He again 
pushed the fire-raft on me, and got the ship on fire all 
along one side. I thought it was all up witli us, but 
we put it out, and got on again, proceeding up the 
river, fighting our waj^. 

" We have destroyed all but two of the gunboats, and 
these will have to surrender with the forts. I intend to 
follow up my success, and push for New Orleans, and 
then come down and attend to the forts, so you hold 
them in statue quo until I come back. I think if you 
send a flag of truce and demand their surrender, they 
will yield, for their intercourse with the city is cut off. 
We have cut the wires above the quarantine, and 
are now going ahead. I took three or four hundred 
prisoners at Quarantine. They surrended, and I paroled 
them not to take up arms again. I could not stop to 
take care of them. 

" If the General will come up to the bayou and land 
a few men, or as many as he pleases, he will find two of 
our gunboats there to protect him from the gunboats 
that are at the forts. I wish to get to the English Turn 
where they have not placed a battery yet, but have two 
above New Orleans. They Avill not be idle, and neither 
will I. You supported us nobly. 
" Very truly, yours, 

"D. C. Farragut. 

" To Captain D. D. Poeter, 

" Commanding Mortar Flotilla." 

Captain Boggs, the bearer of this letter, late com- 
mander of the Yerona, stated that before the Yerona 
sunk, she destroyed, alone, six of the Rebel steamers, of 
which he learned the names of four, viz. : the Wm. H. 

9 



130 EUNNING THE GAUNTLET OF 

Webb, Pabiietto, Phenix, and Jackson. As lie passed 
the forts, the Verona, as well as all the other vessels, 
received their fire. The Richmond, and one or two 
more of the large steam-sloops, slackened speed, and 
poured three or four broadsides each into the enemy. 

The Yerona, after discharging two broadsides, passed 
on a mile or two above, and came in contact with 
several Rebel gunboats, by which she was attacked, 
two or three assailing her at once, butting her with their 
iron-cased prows, and making several large holes in her. 

Captain Boggs fought them bravely with his guns as 
long as his vessel floated, and drove the Rebel steamers 
ashore, where they were fired by their own crews. One 
of his shot disabled still another steamer, by making a 
hole in her boiler, when she surrendered to the Oneida, 
which took her officers and crew prisoners. 

The Yerona's last guns were fired when her decks 
were under water, and no clothing or property of any 
kind on board was saved. She lost three of her crew 
killed, and seven wounded. Eleven Rebel steamers, 
including the ram, were destroyed, and the captain of 
the ram captured. 

After the fight, the whole squadron that passed the 
forts, numbering twelve vessels, repaired to the Quaran- 
tine anchorage, seven miles above the fort. Tliere the 
dead were buried, and the wounded cared for. Our 
killed and wounded was estimated, by Captain Boggs, 
at about one hundred and twenty-five ; the enemy's loss 
was thought to be enormous. 

Captain Porter, acting on the suggestion of Commo- 
dore Farragut, sent Captain Guest, with a flag of truce, 
up to the forts, with a demand for an unconditional 
surrender. As the captain approached Fort St. Philip, 



FOKTS JACKSON. AND ST. PHILIP. 131 

liis flag was fired on several times^ when lie immedi- 
ately returned. Half an lionr after, a gig came down • 
from the Rebel fort, bearing a white flag and a Rebel 
lieutenant with a motley crew. After learning the na- 
ture of our demand, he went back to the fort, and soon 
returned again with an answer from Colonel Higginson 
that our terms were inadmissible, and that the forts 
would never surrender. 

Soon after the Rebel answer had been received by 
Captain Porter, the bombardment of the forts was 
renewed by him, and continued until the mortar fleet 
was ordered down the river on the approach of the 
burning ships and the ram Manassas, with a view to 
obtaining greater sea room for advantageous manoeu- 
vring. 

The larger part of the squadron having passed the 
forts, cheers of exultation, vehemently reiterated, made 
the welkin ring. 

Of the gallantry, courage and conduct of this heroic 
action, unprecedented in naval warfare, considering the 
character of the work and the river, too much cannot 
be said. 

At eleven o'clock on the morning of the 25th, the 
fleet weighed anchor and steamed up the river for N'ew 
Orleans, leaving the Kineo and Wissahickon to guard 
the qu.arantine and keep possession of the canals lead- 
ing out to the sea. 

The sequel of this story, involving the su.rrender of 
the forts, I shall render very briefly. It had been 
arrang^ed between the fla!2:-officer and General Butler, 
that in case the forts were not reduced, and a portion 
of the fleet succeeded in passing them, that the General 
should make a landing from the Gulf side, in rear of 



132 CAPTUEE OF NEW ORLEANS. 

tlie forts at the quarantine, and from thence attempt 
Fort St. Philip by assault, while the bombardment was 
continued by the fleet. 

The General went with his troops to Sable Island, 
twelve miles in rear of Fort St. Philip. The 26th Mas- 
sachusetts Volunteers, Colonel Jones, were then shipped 
on board the light draught steamer Miami, and taken 
within six miles of the fort, and from thence, with the 
aid of some thirty row-boat, conveyed four and a half 
miles further, the men, a part of the way, dragging 
the boats singly, themselves waist-deep in water. The 
enemy not considering this mode of attack possible, 
took no measures to oppose it. We occupied at once 
both sides of the river, effectually cutting them off 
from all supplies, while we made our dispositions for 
the assault. Captain Porter had sent two schooners 
into the bayou to cut off all escape, and General Phelps 
had two re2:iments in the river below. Thus sur- 
rounded, and the men in mutiny, the forts surrendered 
to Captain Porter on the 28th of April, and were at 
once occupied by General Butler. 



STORY XXXII 



CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS. 

Leaving the Kneodout and "VYissahickon to guard 
the quarantine and keep possession of the canals which 
lead out seaward, the fleet started up the river for New 
Orleans, at eleven o'clock, A. M., of the 24th of April, 
1862. 



CAPTUEE OF NEW OELEANS. 133 

For miles from their anchorage they found, on both 
sides of the river, the houses were decorated with white 
flags, and in many instances, tattered and torn Ameri- 
can ensigns waved over fishing luggers and houses, 
while the people expressed their joy by hearty greet- 
ings, and waving of handkerchiefs. The precaution 
had been taken of cutting the telegraph wires every 
few miles, but the people of Orleans had been early 
warned of the fall of the forts, and made preparation 
to give the invaders a characteristic reception. 

As the fleet proceeded, the negroes of the plantations 
left their labors and flocked to the levee, in apparent 
ecstacies of joy at' its approach, ludicrously bomng, 
courtesying, and tossing hats and caps in the air. 

During the afternoon dense columns of smoke were 
visible in the direction of New Orleans, indicating that 
something was on fire. The flames continued all the 
evening. At eight o'clock the fleet anchored eighteen 
miles below the city. 

Getting under way again at half past five, A. M., on 
the 25th, we soon passed five large ships, laden with 
cotton, nearly consumed, evidently the source of the 
smoke and flames seen the evening before. At a quar- 
ter to eleven the Chelmette batteries were discovered 
on each side of the river, the one mounting ten guns, 
the other eight. They both opened fire on our advance, 
but were silenced in a few minutes, with the loss of one 
man overboard. 

" This last affair," says Farragut, '4s what I call one of 
the elegancies of the profession — a dash and a victory." 

The river was filled with ships on fire, and along the 
levee were burning vessels, no less than eighteen being 
on fire at one time, and others were bein"^ fired as fast as 



134 CAPTUKE OF NEW OELEANS. 

tlie torch could be applied. A terrible rain storm came 
on and tlie fleet came to anchor at one o'clock, P. M. 

The view from the decks was such as will probably 
never be witnessed again. A large city lay at the 
mercy of our fleet. Its levee was crowded by an 
excited mob. The smoke of the ruins of millions of 
dollars worth of cotton and shipping at times^ concealed 
the people. 

While men were hastening up the levee, firing ships 
and river craft as fast as possible, others were rushing 
to and fro. Some, Avho cheered for the Union, were 
fired upon by the crowd; men, women and children 
being armed with pistols, knives, and various weapons. 

Some cheered for Jefi'. Davis and Beauregard, using 
the most insolent and defiant language toward the old 
flag : order being a thing past and forgotten. 

At two o'clock. Captain Bailey went on shore, bear- 
ing a flag of truce, for the purpose of communicating 
with the authorities. As the boats drew near the levee, 
the mob cursed the old flag and everything pertaining 
to it. It was with the greatest dif&cu.lty that the naval 
officers reached the City Hall, where the City Council, 
the Mayor and Major-General Lovell were awaiting 
their arrival. 

Fla2:-0fficer Farrao^ut sent word to the authorities 
that he demanded the surrender of the City of New 
Orleans, and assured them of the protection of the " old 
flag." The city being under martial-law, of course the 
civil authorities could do nothing ; but General Lovell, 
with much pomposity and bluster, replied that he 
would never surrender. But, on beino- informed that 
the city was in our power, he agreed to evacuate the 
city with his troops, numbering, some ten or fifteen 
thousand, and leave matters to the civil authorities. 



CAPTUEE OF NEW ORLEANS. 185 

Captain Bailey and his aid, Lieutenant Perkins, tlien 
returned to the boats, suffering many insults and indig- 
nities by. the way, as also did the officer in charge of 
the boats in their- absence. 

The next morning Mayor Monroe sent his secretary 
and chief of police to Commodore Farragut, to say that 
he would convene the Council at ten o'clock, and give 
him an answer : that the general had retired, and that 
he had resumed the duties of his office as mayor, and 
would endeavor to preserve order in the city and pre- 
vent the destruction of property. 

Flag- Officer Farragut sent the mayor a letter by his 
secretary, demanding a surrender of the city, in con- 
formity with the demand made by him the day pre- 
vious, through Captain Bailey. This second letter was 
as follows : 

United States Flag-ship Hartford, ) 
off New Orleans, April 26, 1862. j 

To his Excellency the Mayor of the City of New Orleans. 

Sir : — Upon my arrival before your city, I had the 
honor to send to your honor, Captain Bailey, U. S. IST. 
second in command of the expedition, to demand of 
, you the surrender of New Orleans to me, as the repre- 
sentative of the Government of the United States. 
Captain Bailey reported the result of an interview with 
yourself and the military authorities. It must occur to 
your honor, that it is not within the province of a 
naval officer to assume the duties of a military com- 
mandant. I came here to reduce New Orleans to 
obedionce to the laws of, and to vindicate the offended 
majesty of the Government of the United States. The 
rights of persons and property shall be secured. 

I, therefore, as its representative, demand the un- 



136 CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS. 

'qualified surrender of tlie citj, and that tlie emblem of 
the sovereignty of the United States be hoisted over 
the city hall, mint and custom-house, by meridian this 
day, and all flags and emblems of sovereignty, other 
than this of the United States, be removed from all the 
public buildings by that hour. 

I particularly request that you shall exercise your 
authority to quell disturbances, restore order, and call 
upon all the good people of New Orleans to return at 
once to their vocations ; and I particularly demand that 
no person shall be molested in person, property or 
sentiments of loyalty to their Government. 

I shall speedily and severely punish any person or 
persons who shall commit such outrages as were wit- 
nessed yesterday, by armed men firing upon helpless 
women and children, for giving expression to their 
pleasure at witnessing the " old flag." 
I am, very respectfully, 

D. Gr. Farragut, 

Flag-Officer Western Gulf Squadron. 

To this demand, the mayor replied at length, in what 
may be termed a subdued tone of insolence and arro- 
gance in distress. Professing to givfe expression to the 
universal sentiment of his constituents, he says : 

'^ The city is yours by brutal force, not by my choice 
or the consent of its inhabitants. It is for you to 
determine what will be the fate that awaits her. As to 
hoisting any flag not of our own adoption and allegi- 
ance, let me tell you that the man lives not in our 
midst whose hand and heart would not be paralyzed at 
the mere thought of such an act. Nor could I • find, in 
my whole constituency, so desperate and wretched a 



CAPTUKE OF NEW OELEANS. 137 

renegade as would dare to profane witli his hand the 
sacred emblem of onr aspirations. ^ ^ -5^ -x- 

" You have a gallant people to administrate during 
your occupancy of this city, a people sensitive to all 
that can in the least affect their dignity and self-respect. 
Pray, so, do not fail to regard their susceptibilities. 
¥r ^ -:f Your occupying the city does not transfer 
allegiance from the Government of their choice, to one 
which they have deliberately repudiated, and that they 
yield the obedience which the conqueror is entitled to 
extort from the conquered." 

Flag- Officer Farragut then sent the following : 

U. S. Flag-Ship Hartford, at anchor, "I 
off City of New Orleans, April 26. j 

To liis Honor, the Mayor of New Orleans : 

Your Honor will please give directions that no flag 

but that of the United States Avill be permitted to fly in 

presence of this fleet, so long as it has the power to 

prevent it ; and as all displays of that kind may cause 

bloodshed, I have to request that you will give this 

communication as general circulation as possible. 

J). G. Farragut, 

Flag Officer. 

At ten o'clock the Commodore sent on shore Lieu- 
tenant Kortz, of the navy, and Lieutenant Brown, of 
the marines, with a marine guard to hoist the flag on 
the Custom-house, but the excitement was so great that 
the Mayor and councillnen thought it would produce a 
conflict, and great loss of life. 

At eleven o'clock, pursuant to General Orders, all 
the officers and crews of the fleet assembled " to return 
thanks to Almighty God, for his great goodness and 



138 CAPTURE OF NEW OELEANS. 

mercy in permitting tliem to pass tliroiigli tlie events of 
the last two days witli so little loss of life and blood." 

Early on the same morning a boat's crew were sent 
to hoist the flag on the Mint, which having been done 
it was speedily torn down by one W. B. Mumford, 
assisted by the Eebels, Lieutenant Holmes, Sergeant 
Burns, and James Eeed. They took the flag in triumph 
up St. Charles street, where it was torn in shreds and 
distributed. 

General Butler, after taking possession of the forts on 
the 28th, and finding them defensible, and well pro- 
visioned, and a good store of ammunition, left the 26th 
regiment Massachusetts voLmteers in garrison, and pro- 
ceeded up the river with his main forces, to occupy 
New Orleans, being informed of its capture. 

On arriving at New Orleans, General Butler reported 
officially, '^I find the city under the dominion of the 
mob. They have insulted our flag, torn it down with 
indignity. This outrage will be punished in such 
manner as in my judgment will cau.tion both' the per- 
petrators and abettors of the act, so that they shall 
fear the stripes, if they do not reverence the stars of 
our banner. "^^ 

General Butler, on assuming the authority of the city, 
issued his proclamation and caused it to be ofiered for 
publication to the several newspaper ofiices, but they 
all refusing, the guard took possession of the True Delta 
office, sent for northern printers, set it up, put it in 
the form, and worked it oft' in the edition. 

The main noticeable points of the proclamation, were 
the following : 



* iMumrurd, tlic priiicipiil in tlic outrage, was afterwards hung 
for it. 



GENEEAL BUTLER IN NEW ORLEANS. 139 

All persons in arms against tlie United States were 
required to surrender. 

All ensignS; flagS; and devices, tending to uphold 
any authority whatever, save the flag of the United 
States, and of foreign consulates, must be suppressed. 

All persons still holding allegiance to the Confederate 
States to be held as rebels and enemies. 

All rights of property to be held inviolate, subject to 
the laws of the United States. 

All inhabitants enjoined to pursue their usual avo- 
cations. 

The circulation of Confederate bonds to be suppressed. 

All assemblages of persons in the streets by night or 
day to be suppressed. 

All requirements of martial law to be enforced as 
long as United States authorities deem necessary. 



STOEY XXXIII 



GENERAL BUTLER IX NEW ORLEANS. 

The following; incident, illustrating; General Butler's 
mode of dealing with refractory cases at New Orleans, 
during his administration there, is vouched for by the 
very best authority. 

A merchant of that city, who was a Secessionist of 
that stamp that took great pleasure in spouting about 
"Picayune Butler," found himself Avith arms in his 
hands on the Eebel side of the lines, after the taking 
of Xew Orleans. 

But he was under tlie necessity of writing frequently 
to the agent Avho had his property in charge. In his 



140 GENERAL BUTLER IN NEW ORLEANS. 

letters lie frequently indulged in execrations of General 
Butler, and in one of them expressed a warm sj^mpatliy 
for men suffering under his tyrannous rule there, saying, 
that he believed a personal chastisement could be in- 
flicted on Butler, and offering his friend and agent five 
thousand dollars to do the job. 

It happened that this letter v/as seen by Butler, " and 
contents noted." Soon afterward the order was issued 
requiring all persons who wished to hold their estates 
in that city, real and personal, to register their names 
and take the oath of alleg^iance. 

The merchant in question had too much to lose, and 
slipping within our lines again, endeavored to make 
himself at home around the city, as though he had 
never been away; but while busy at the preparatory 
work, General Butler's orderly waited on him with a 
polite invitation to call at headquarters. He did so, 
suspecting nothing. 

General Butler received him very kindly, and begged 
to show him something^ of interest; takino^ the letter in 
question from his desk, he asked him if that was his 
handwriting and signature ; and the convicted hater of 
Picayune Butler could do no less than own up. 

General Butler then said to him, that as he was evi- 
dently a man of substance, with money to spare for 
good purposes, he might give his §5,000 to the fund 
for the support of the poor loyalists, as he had not been 
able to secure the threshing that he first proposed to 
pay it out for, and that he might have twenty-four 
hours in which to place the money in that fund, or go 
to the fort below, and wear a ball and chain. 

The man made haste to liquidate, and registered him- 
self on the side of General Butler's authority thereafter. 



EUNNING THE VICKSBURG BLOCKADE. 141 



STOEY XXXIV. 



RUNNING THE VICKSBURG BLOCKADE. 

On tlie 1st of February, 1863, it was determined that 
the rams Monarcli and Queen of the West should run 
past Yickburg on the following morning, at daybreak. 
For some cause the Monarch did not raise steam at the 
proper time, nor join the attempt, and the Queen did 
not get off as soon as was expected. 

At six o'clock she started, under a full head of steam. 
She was under command of Colonel Ellet, who aided 
in capturing Memphis, in June previous. The Yicks- 
burgers w^ere evidently not taken by surprise, as they 
opened fire promptly on the ram. The Queen was four 
miles distant from Yicksburg when she started. 

When she had proceeded half a mile, a signal-light 
was hoisted on " the cupola of the Vicksburg Court- 
house, and in five minutes three batteries opened. 

The Queen kept steadily on her way, the guns bear- 
ing on her increasing in number, momentarily, until 
finally, every battery seemed playing. Her progress 
was so rapid, that the batteries could not get range, with 
any degree of accuracy. Out of two hundred shots 
fired, only three took effect. Her capstan was shot 
away. One 7 -inch shell lodged in the state-room, but 
did not explode. Had it done so. Colonel Ellet thought 
the ram would have been destroyed. Xo one on board 
was hurt. 

The Queen attempted no reply to the batteries, but 
ran into the gun-boat Vicksburg, at the wharf, striking 
her forward of the cook-house, damag-ins^ her to some 



142 ASSASSINATION OF GEN. EGBERT L. m'COOK. 

extent. In less than one hour from starting, the Queen 
of the AYest was safelj anchored below the city, at the 
mouth of the new cut-off. She carried two long Parrot 
guns, and the intention of running her below, was to 
cut off' steamboat communication between Yicksburg 
and Port Hudson. 



STOKY XXXIY. 



ASSASSINATION OF GENERAL ROBERT L. McCOOK. 

On the 5th day of August, 1862, as General McCook 
was on his way with his brigade from Hazel Green to 
Winchester, Tennessee, when about six miles from 
Salem, Alabama, contiguous to the State line, it being 
about ten o'clock in the morning, he fell a victim to 
guerrillas. 

He was riding in an ambulance, or small wagon, 
being ill, having been sick about six weeks, and was 
accompanied by Captain Hunter Brooke, who was 
nursing him. He was not in advance of his command, 
as has been erroneously stated, but between regiments, 
the 18 th regulars and part of the 1st Ohio cavalry, 
having preceded him. His usual escort of twelve of 
the 1st Ohio cavalry were in attendance. 

While on the road, they were attacked by a party ol 
men in citizen's clothes, and were fired upon by them, 
some fifteen or twenty times ; the men rushing out of 
the brush, by the road side, where they had lain secreted, 
and undiscovered by the advance regiments. 

Unfortunately, the General had sent three of his 



ASSASSINATION OF GEN. KOBERT L. m'COOK. 143 

escort with orders to different parts of tlie brigade, and 
three others off the road to select a suitable camping- 
ground, tbns reducing his escort to six. 

As the guerrillas made for .the ambulance, during the 
firing, the remainder of the escort fled, without firing 
a shot; seeing which, the driver of the ambulance 
attempted to escape them bj running it half or three- 
quarters of a mile, but finding escape impossible, he 
stopped by running it against a bank ; when General 
McCook and Captain Brooke both rose up and raised 
up their hands in token of having surrendered. 

The assassin, John A. Gurley, rode up, (being fifteen 
or twenty yards in advance of the rest of the party,) 
and fired three shots from a revolver. The first shot 
took no effect, the second shot passed through Captain 
Brooke's coat, and the third shot struck General McCook 
in the left side, just at the lower rib, while he was in an 
upright position, with his hands raised. 

After the performance of this dastardly deed, Gurley 
rode on, and rejoined his command about twelve o'clock 
at New Market, where Captain Brooke, who had been 
taken along as a prisoner, charged him with it, and 
he admitted that he did it. 

Another Eebel rode up after Gurley ceased firing, 
and aimed his gun, when the General told him re- 
proachfully, " You needn't shoot ; I am already fatally 
wounded." The ball had passed entirely through his 
body, fatally tearing the intestines. 

The main body of the guerrillas pursued the fleeing 
escort, but three or four remaining with their victim. 

Captain Brooke and Gurley drove the General to the 
house where he died. He lived about twenty-four 
hours after being wounded, and retained his conscious- 



144 ASSASSINATION OF GEN. ROBERT L. m'COOK. 

ncss to the last, tliougli frequently unable to speak, 
from tlie dreadful pain he suffered. He stated that 
when the party came up to the house, the occupants, 
men, women and children, claj^joed their hands in appro- 
hation of the Rebel achievement. 

The whole brigade arrived at the house, about an 
hour after he. was wounded. The men came up in 
double-quick, panting and shouting for vengeance. The 
effect of the sad sight, of their mortally wounded Gene- 
ral, upon them, was most distressing. All day and 
night the faithful soldiery were grouped about the 
house, waiting their turns to bid a last farewell to their 
commander. Neither among the officers or men was 
there a dry eye, or a lip not quivering with anguish. 
A more moving scene has rarely been witnessed. The 
brigade did not resume its march until the General had 
breathed his last. 

Ketribution — terrible retribution was dealt by the 
9th Ohio. The hands of the men that cheered Eebel 
murderers will clap no more. With fire and sword 
and bayonet, the scene of the foul assassination was 
reduced to a state of desolation, from which it will not 
recover until time will have swept away the remem- 
brance of the death of Kobert L. McCook. 

The corpse of General McCook was taken to Nash- 
ville on the 7th day of August, and from thence 
removed to Ohio, his State. Captain Brooke was taken 
from the Eebel house soon after his arrival there, and 
was paroled the next day, and came within our lines, 
but not in time to accompany the corpse. 



A CUTE YANKEE TRICK. 145 



ELEGY 

There's a wail o'er the land, for the brave McCook, 
And tears to his mem'ry are flowing, 

To mingle and swell the sacred brook — 
A tribute the nation is owing ! 

He hath fallen, alas ! by a traitorous foe — 

The hell-born Confederation: 
And freedom bewaileth the dastardly blow, 

Which in gloom hath enshrouded a nation ! 

Brave heroes he leadeth to battle no more, 
The foremost and head of the column ; 

Yet still he preceddh, as ever before — 

To the tomb ! oh ! how truthful and solemn ! 

Then tears to the mem'ry of the brave McCook, 

Whose fair fame surviveth in story ; 
Whose name is enrolled in freedom's fair book. 

And whose spirit hath gone up to glory ! 



STORY XXXYI. 



A CUTE YANKEE TRICK. 

A GOOD "Yankee trick" was plavecl oft' in February, 
1862, on some t\Yentj-five or tbirty Baltimore Seces- 
sion aspirants. They were anxious to spirit their way 
to "Dixie," and agreed with a Yankee captain, o\vner 
of a schooner, to land them in Yirginia for two hun- 
dred and fifty dollars. This he agreed to, stipulating 
that they should fork over the sum in advance. They 
agreed. A given night approached, when the sly craft 
was in waiting at a designated point, over the river, 
some miles from Baltimore. 
N 10 



146 MAJOR- CtENEEAL wtlltam s. rosecrans. 

TLe aspiring Dixeyites arrived, paid their money, 
and went aboard all in jovial spirits. Sails were 
spread, and off went tlie schooner, to plow her Avay 
through the briny deep, while those who had taken 
passage exclaimed — 

" Nor care what land thou bringest us to 
So not again to ours." 

The night was long, dark, and dreary, but while stars 
yet were peeping, the Yankee captain made a point on 
the Maryland shore, told his passengers it was Virginia, 
landed them safely, and advised them to make the best 
of their way toward Kichmond, when he pushed off' and 
was soon out of sight. 

Morning broke, but only to reveal the sad conscious- 
ness that these recruits for Jeff*. Davis and Beauregard 
were still on Maryland soil, minus their money, and in 
a worse condition than when they started. 

Every day or two, for a while, brought back to his 
Baltimore home, one or more of these cheerless wan- 
derers, in an awful dilapidated condition. Whether or 
not our Ycmkee Salt succeeded in getting another such 
cargo, is considered extra-problematical. 



Major-General William S. Eosecrans, of Ohio, 
Avas fifth in the class of 1842, numbering fifty-six. 
Being a professor at West Point, during the entire 
period of the Mexican war, he was kept away from 
battle until that of Rich Mountain, where, by his skill 
and bravery, Avas most unquestionably achieved the 
brilliant victory accredited to General McClellan. Ilis 
subsequent achievements, as commander of the Army 
of the Cumberland, at Murfreesboro' and Chickamauga 
are matters of Avell -known history. 



THE FEDERAL MAJOR AXD TEXAX WIDOW. 147 



STORY XXXYII 



THE FEDERAL MAJOR AND TEXAN WIDOW. 

A ROMANTIC STORY. 

The following amiTsing episode, as tlie sequel will 
show, lately occurred on a trip to New Orleans, as 
related by a gallant captain of the 27tli Army Corps. 

He says : — " We had a very pleasant trip down to 
the Crescent City, with some political prisoners from 
the Department of the Missouri, and persons Avho were 
allowed to pass into the Confederate lines to see their 
relations, look after their property, &c. 

" Among the exiles was Ashton P. Johnston of St. 
Louis, Marmaduke, late of the Convention, Eev. Father 
Donnelly, of St. Joseph, and other of less import. 

"Among the 'voluntaries' were young maids and old 
maids, wives and widows. Among the young maids 
was one who confidentially told me that she was going 
to Mobile to be married. It looked to me very much 
like sending supplies to the' enemy ; but I couldn't ^ help'' 
it, so let it go. They nearly all came to this place in 
charge of Captain Dwight, Assistant-Inspector General 
of the Department of the Missouri. 

"In the party was a young widow. 'Pretty!' In 
my judgment she was interesting — when was a young 
and pretty Avidow not? Being young, pretty, and a 
widow, is it strange that a young officer, to whose care 
she was intrusted, should extend to her all the cour- 
tesies and attention proper and consistent wuth his 
official position ? It was not strange ; nor was it strange 



148 THE FEDERAL MAJOR AND TEXAN WIDOW. 

tliat in return for liis kindness^ and at Lis solicitation, 
she should confide to him the tale of her woes. 

" She was from Mexico ; her husband had been con- 
scripted in Texas, into the Kelel arni}^ ; had died, leav- 
ing her the sole proprietress of numerous droves of 
mustangs, and the mother of two small children, (mostly 
boys and girls.) 

"Her spirits and her person, draped in the habili- 
ments of mourning, for the length of time deemed pro- 
per, she resolved to quit the place where each familiar 
object reminded her of the time spent in conjugal 
felicity with the dear departed one; that one 'gone to 
a ranch from which there was no return;' so all the 
personal property, with the exception of some unruly 
mustangs, who refused to be 'cotched,' and some colored 
individual, who, having heard of the Proclamation, re- 
fused to be considered personal property, and wouldn't 
be 'catched neither,' was converted into Confederate 
tr — cash, and the ranch vacated. 

"At Metamoras the Confederate money was ex- 
changed for gold, passage secured on a Spanish vessel 
to Havana, which was soon bounding across the Gulf. 
Tears were shed, as on leaving one's native land they 
always will be : but it was all for the best ; a residence 
upon the beautiful island of Cuba, a place in the affec- 
tions and family of the dear relations who anticipated 
her coming; quiet walks beneath fragrant orange 
groves; the air of that delightful and salubrious cli- 
mate, would go far in dispelling the gloom which 
shrouded her young and ardent soul. 

"But, alas! for the orange groves, and ambrosial 
atmosphere, a storm arose, the ship was driven into an 
inlet off' the coast of Florida, was taken by our block- 



THE FEDERAL MAJOR AND TEXA^T WIDOW. 149 

ading squadron off Key West, for a blackade runner, 
and sent to New York, where, after an examination, 
she was released, and sent on her wa_y. 

" The fair Avidow, having escaped the dangers of the 
sea, resolved not to venture again, till her nerves had 
regained their wonted firmness. Having friends at St. 
Louis, she resolved to visit that city. Arriving there 
— there she remained until the fall of Yicksburg and 
Port Hudson, and the consequent opening of the Mis- 
sissippi river, when she resolved to attempt Havana, 
this time via New Orleans. Major B. was on the boat. 
The major, you must know is a very gallant man. The 
ladies, dear creatures, will fall in love with him. In 
fact, the citadel of their affections invariably capitulates 
when he lays, siege. 

" The major was introduced to the fair widow by the 
captain in charge, and he had a soul to sympathize 
with her in her affliction, so to his special care she was 
consigned. It was soon a mutual discovery that their 
tastes and sympaties were similar. Did he admire any 
particular scenery along the shores? — ditto, she. To- 
gether they Avould pass hours in some retired place 
upon the guards of the boat, in sweet interchange of 
thouo'ht and sentiment. 

" He had never met one before for whom he. had 
formed an attachment so sincere, and she, from the 
moment when first introduced, felt that she saw in him. 
the realization of her hopes. In him she saw the only 
one who should ever catch the untamed mustangs, and 
again bring joy to the ranch. 

" Thus did this enamored pair pass the long hours of 
the journey. Arrived in New Orleans. Would the 
major be so kind as to secure her rooms at the hotel, 



150 THE FEDERAL MAJOR AND TEXAN WIDOW. 

and to make some inquiry after her micle, who resided 
somewhere in the city ? Of course he would. Mine 
host of the St. Charles provided the proper apartments, 
and the Avidow duly domiciled therein, the Major sallied 
forth to make inquiries after " our uncle," in which ho 
was entirely unsuccessful ; not being able to find any 
gentleman of that name. The widow felt sad, was dis- 
appointed. 

" Her uncle was formerly a man of wealth and influ- 
ence, and she had not calculated upon having any 
difficult}^ in finding him ; but this cruel war had changed 
everything ; and then the beautiful eyes of the fair and 
and fascinating widow filled with tears. 

"It grew rather embarrassing to the Major. He was 
expecting to meet his wife, who was waiting in the city 
for him, having come around via the Gulf. Bu.t the 
fair creature whose head was reclining upon his shoulder, 
and whose heaving bosom was beating against his own, 
knew nothing of that; she only knew as she said, that 
in that great city, among strangers, without the Major 
her heart would break. 

"How benevolent the Major's intentions may have 
been, we can only conjecture, for u.nlooked for events 
will sometimes play the deuce with one's arrangements. 
At least it was so in this case. The fact was, the wife 
of the Major learning of his arrival made inquiries, and 

ascertaining that he had taken No. , resolved upon 

a pleasant surprise for him, so with two of the little 

majors in tow she proceeded to No. . Passing an 

adjoining room she overheard the voice of the one 
sought for, and thinking there must be some mistake 
in the number of the room, and that where that familiar 
voice was heard must be the right one, she pushed 
open the door and entered. 



COLONEL LOKI^' ANDEEWS. 151 

" Whether the scene which met her eye, was calculated 
to increase her faith in the constancy of her spouse, or 
otherwise, we leave those who are able to judge to 
decide. We do know, though, that the Major's bag- 
gage was removed to another part of the house before 
many hours had expired, and that he was the recipient 
of a note from the clerk of the house to the followinsr 

o 

effect : 

" ' Dear Major : — Having unexpectedly found my 
uncle, I will relieve you and yours from any further 
care upon my part, if you will be so kind as to settle the 
bill which the clerk will present to you. Adios. L. 

P. S. Not having sold my gold yet, it is inconvenient 

for me to refund you the dollars which you so 

kindly loaned to me. L.' 

" The major is a wiser man : he looks meek, but will 
fire up upon any allusion being made to mustangs or 
Spanish widows." 



COLONEL LOEIN ANDEEWS. 

Few braver and more patriotic men than Lorin An- 
drews ever lived. At the breaking out of the Slave- 
holders' Eebellion, he was the first man in Ohio to 
tender his services to Governor Tod. Knowing what 
would be necessaTy, he did not wait fo'r the requisition 
to be made on the State for troops, but hastened to offer 
his services in whatever position the Governor might 
designate. He was appointed Colonel of the 4th In- 
fantry, Ohio volunteers, under the President's requisi- 



152 COLONEL LORIN ANDREWS. 

tion, served wivli tlie regiment in Western Virginia, 
with ardor, ability, and fidelity, until be was taken sick 
in August, 1862, when lie returned to his family in 
Gambler, and died in September following, lamented 
by all who knew him. The following is submitted as 
a tribute to his memory : 



A brave man lies low ! 
And sad is our sorrow, 
And deep is our woe ! 

Tliougli Kenyon bewail him, 
In sadness and gloom, 

'Twill nothing avail him. 
Low m the dark tomb ! 

No more will he heighten 
The fame of her glades ; 

Nor with science enlighten 
Her classical shades. 

Ye vot'ries of learning ! 

Well may ye deplore 
So sad a bereavement 

To freedom and lore ! 

At the call of our country 
He flew to her aid : 

He mounted his charger. 
And wielded his blade 

How faithful in friendship ! 

How stern in his wrath ! 
And woe to the Rebel 

That countered his path I 

His courage undaunted, 
And " onward" his word, 

His faith in dry powder. 
And trust in the Lord. 



HOW THE POWDEK WAS SAVED FROM EXPLODING. 153 

But life's toilsome battle, 

With him is now o'er ; 
Since death has disarmed him, 

He armeth no more. 

He hath ceased from his labor, 

He heareth no call, 
His pistols and sabre 

Now hang in the hall. 

The good man hath fallen — 

The brave man lies low 1 
And sad is our sorrow, 

And deep is our woe ! 



STORY XXXYIII. 



HOW THE POWDER WAS SAVED FROM EXPLODING. 

During the engagement the Gunboat Yalley City 
was fighting two Rebel boats at once, working her guns 
on both sides, when a shell entered her port-bow, passed 
into her masrazine, knocked the head off a half- barrel 
of powder, and exploded in a locker, which was filled 
with blue-lights, rockets, and Coston signal lights. 

The fire-works were ignited at the instant, and, in 
the close box, bu.rnt with fury, filling the magazine 
mth sulphurous fumes. The quarter gunner, instead 
of leaving his post, as most men would have done, at 
such a terrible juncture, immediately sat upon the open 
barrel, to keep the sparks from falling into the powder. 

Captain J. Gr. Chaplin, commander of the vessel, 
called all hands to fire-quarters, but seeing that this 
would take too many from the guns, said he would go 



154 GEN'ERAL BUTLER's ACCOUNT OF HIS 

into the magazine himself, and extinguish the fire. 
Without a moment's hesitation, he jumped into the 
perilous place, and giving orders to keep up the fight, 
he passed up powder with one hand, and buckets of 
water down with the other, until the fire was quenched. 
On entering the magazine and seeing the gunner 
sitting so quietly on the powder-barrel, he thought he 
was either shirking his duty, or bewildered by fear, and 
asked him sternly Avhat he was doing there. "Ah, Sir," 
said the splendid fellow, "this 'ere shell have stove off 
the head of the barrel, and if I get up, a little spark 
might fall in, and blow us all to smithereens in a 
minute." Courage like this of Captain Chaplin and his 
quarter gunner has seldom been shown in any navy, 
and their conduct should be noted amono^ the brio;htest 
incidents of the war. 

Search the wide workl over, and still you will find 

In our army and our navy, are the bravest of mankind. 



STOEY XXXIX. 



GENERAL BUTLER'S ACCOUNT OF HIS RECRUITING OPERA- 
TIONS IN LOUISIANA. 

Extracted trom nis testimony before the Committee on the 
Conduct of the War. 

" I ISSUED an order that any Confederate soldier, who 
chose to desert and leave the Kebel army, might come 
into Xew Orleans and register his name. 

" There had come into New Orleans, up to this time, 
something over 6,000 men. who had been soldiers in 
the Kebel army, and registered themselves as paroled 



EECRUITIXG 0PERATI0X3 IX LOUISIANA. 155 

prisoners ; so that I "had in New Orleans nearly twice 
as many men who had been soldiers in the Confederate 
army as I had of Union soldiers. 

" I had asked for leave, which had been graated, to 
recruit my regiments. I recruited in Louisiana all my 
old regiments np to the full standard ; raised two new 
white regiments, and four companies of cavalry — all 
of men living in Louisiana. They fought bravely at 
Baton Rouge. Out of 460 men of the 14th Maine, who 
Avere in line, 200 of them were recruits from Louisiana. 
They, of course, were healthy men, not having suffered 
the troubles either of Camp Parapet or Yicksburg. 

" I ordered $8 a month to be paid out of the provost 
fund to the widows and mothers of quite a number of 
Louisiana soldiers that were killed under our flag, 
because I knew it would take a long time to get it 
from Washington, and I wanted to encourage others to 
enlist. The provost fund was made up of fines and for- 
feitures, sales of confiscated projDerty, and two dollars 
charged for each pass, &c. 

"I asked for liberty to raise 5,000 native Louisiani- 
ans, and raised nearly that number, including recruits 
in the old regiments. White recruiting began then to 
fall off", because of the high wages beginning to be paid 
for white labor on the plantations, in order to save 
the sugar crop where the negroes had left. 

"I had written to Washington for reinforcements, 
but they replied that they could not give me any, 
though they wrote that I must hold New Orleans at 
all hazards. I determined to do that, if for no other 
reason, because the Rebels had offered a reward for my 
head, and it would have been rather inconvenient to 
me to have lost it. 



156 GENERAL BUTLER's ACCOUNT OF HIS 

"Upon examining the records, I found that Gover- 
nor Moore, of Louisiana, had raised a regiment of free 
colored people, and organized and officered it; and I 
found one of his commissions. I sent for a colored 
man, as an of&cer of that regiment, and got some fifteen 
or sixteen of the of&cers together — black, and mulatto, 
light and dark colored — and asked them what thej 
meant by being organized under the Eebels. 

" They said they had been ordered out, and could not 
refuse ; but that the Eebels had never trusted them with 
arms. They had been drilled in company drill. I 
asked them if that organization could be resuscitated, 
provided they were supplied with arms. They said 
that it could. Yery well, I said, then I will resuscitate 
that regiment of Louisiana militia. 

"I, therefore, issued an order, stating the precedent 
furnished by Governor Moore, and in a week from that 
time, I had in that regiment a thousand men, reason- 
ably drilled, and well- disciplined ; better disciplined 
than any other regiment I had there, because the 
blacks had always been taught to do as they were 
told. It was composed altogether of freemen; made 
free under some law. 

" There was a very large French and English popu- 
lation in Louisiana. I ascertained that neither French 
nor English law permitted French or English subjects 
to hold slaves in a foreign country. According to the 
French law, any French citizen holding slaves in a 
foreign country, forfeits his citizenship. According to 
the British law, any Englishman holding slaves in a 
foreign country, forfeits one hundred pounds. 

" I, thereupon issued an order, that every person 
should register himself; the loyal as loyal; French 



RECKUITING OPERATIONS IN LOUISIANA. 157 

subjects, as Frencli subjects ; Englisli subjects, as Eng- 
lisli subjects, &c., under their own hands, so that there 
could be no mistake in the books of the Provost Mar- 
shaL That was accordingly done. 

" I then said to those who claimed to be French and 
English subjects: 'According to the law of the country 
to which you claim, by this register, to owe allegiance, 
all the negroes claimed by you as slaves are free, and 
being free, I may enlist as many of them as I please.' 
And I accordingly enlisted one regiment and part of 
another, from men in that condition. 

"We had a great many difficulties about it. But 
the English Consul came fairly up to the mark, and 
decided that the negroes claimed as slaves by those 
who had registered themselves as British subjects, were 
free ; so that I never enlisted a slave. Indeed, it was a 
general order, that no slave should be enlisted. 

4f * * * 4f -Jf -Sf 

" I sent an expedition under General Weitzel to Don- 
aldsonville, and swept down through that country to 
Berwick Bay; drove out the enemy, who were there 
in considerable force, and brought the whole of that 
region, from one end to the other, within the Union 
lines. 

* -H- * -K- -Jf iv * 

"In taking possession of that district, which had 
heretofore been in possession of the enemy, we ob- 
tained possession of a region of country containing 
more sugar plantations, and more slaves, than any 
other portion of Louisiana. Some 15,000, perhaps 
20,000 slaves came, by that one expedition, under our 
control ; and, as Congress had passed a law declaring 
that all slaves held by Eebels, in regions that after- 



158 SCENE IN THE CAPITAL GROUNDS, WASHINGTON. 

ward sliould come into our possession, should be free, 

all those slaves became free. 

"I enlisted a third regiment, and two batteries of 

heavy artillery, from among those negroes thus made 

free. Two of these colored regiments were employed 

in guarding the Opelousas Kailroad, running from 

Algiers to Berwick Bay, and when I left there they 

were still thus employed. 

^:- -X- ^ -jf ^ * * 

"I turned over to my successor, of soldiers, 17,800, 
incKiding the black regiments, though I had but 18,700 
to start on." 



STOEY XL. 



SCENE IN THE CAPITOL GPvOUNDS, WASHINGTON. 

An amusing scene is represented by a newspaper cor- 
respondent, as having occurred in August, 1862, in the 
capitol grounds at Washington. lie says : 

While on the steamer Adelaide, the Fortress Monroe 
boat from Baltimore, I became acquainted with a Mr. 
Graves, an English gentleman from Manchester, who 
was on his way to the fortress for the purpose of making 
a visit to the army of the Potomac. When the army 
evacuated Harrison Landing he started for Washington, 
and it was within half an hour after he left there, that 
an amusing scene occurred, of which the following is 
his own version. 

lie entered the capitol grounds and asked an officer 
whom he met, what that maGrnificent structure was used 
for ? (meaning the capitol.) 



SCENE IN THE CAPITAL GEOUNDS, WASHINGTON. 159 

" That," answered tlie officer, " is tlie bakery for tlie 
United States army. (The basement was in fact appro- 
priated for that purpose at that time.) This singular 
answer somewhat took Mr. Graves aback, who, remon- 
strating at what he considered an unwarrantable joke, 
under the circumstances, received for reply, " That is 
the only answer you will get, sir, and if you don't like 
it you must take your own remedy." When the gen- 
tleman asked his name, " John Smith," answered the 
officer. Highly incensed at this second indignity, Mr. 
Graves demanded his card, producing his own. 

The officer now appeared to wish to get rid of the 
matter, turning on his heel in the direction of the cap- 
itol exclaiming ^'' Pshaw!" The Englishman followed 
him up the steps of the capitol. On reaching the top, 
the officer turned round and said, " Well, sir, what are 
you following me for ? What do you want?" "I want 
your name," answered Mr. Gra,ves, " and I will follow 
you till I learn what it is." The officer ordered him to 
leave the place, but to no purpose. Both parties ap- 
peared to be getting excited, when fortunately, at this 
instant a door opened, and Captain 'Darling made his 
appearance. " Captain Darling," commanded the officer, 
''take this man away." Captain Darling at once ad- 
vanced and took charge of Mr. Graves. " I demand 
that you tell me the name of that officer," said Mr. 
Graves, " before I leave." " That," said Captain Dar- 
ling," is General Halleck, commander-in-chief of the 
American army." The Englishman wilted. 



160 NAKROW ESCAPES. 



STOKY XLI, 



NARROW ESCAPES. 

At the battle of Fort Henry, a soldier had the plate 
of his belt struck by a bullet, and the U in the U. S. 
entirely obliterated : and yet he was unhurt. 

Another had the pictures of his wife and mother in 
separate cases in his side pocket, and a ball passed 
throuo'h both, and Iodised in the inside one ; the cases 
thus saving his life. He sent them to his wife by 
express. 

A member of the 8th Missouri had a half dollar in 
his pocket, which was struck with so much force as to 
bend the edges together and enclose the ball. 

A colonel of one of the regiments found four of his 
men hid behind a stump, and riding up with great 
gravity, asked them if that stump needed so large a 
guard. At that instant a cannon ball sent it a kiting, 
without hurting one of them. 

A private soldier received ten wounds, and yet sat 
on a log and loaded and fired as long as he could see 
the enemy. 

Amonor the wounded who arrived in Louisville after 

o 

the battle of Murfreesboro, was Joseph Eock, a private 
in Company B, 23d Kentucky, aged eighteen years, 
who was in the thickest of the fight. He was shot in 
the right breast, a Minnie ball striking the buckle of 
his suspender, driving it through a portion of the lungs, 
and lodging under the skin in his back. The surgeon 
cut through the skin and took out the ball and buckle, 
which were fastened together. Beside this, he had three 



ENLISTING NEGEOES. 161 

balls to pass thro"agli the leg of his pants ; and the stock 
of his gun was shivered by a ball while he was taking 
aim. He was lodged in hospital No. 4, and when last 
heard from was rapidly recovering from his injuries. 

At the battle of Fort Donelson^ Peter ^forton, of the 
13th Illinois^ had the case of his watch^ which he wore 
in his upper vest pocket; immediately over his heart, 
torn away by a canister shot; and the watch still con- 
tinued to keep time. 



STOEY XLIL 



ENLISTING NEGROES. 

The following matter of fact occurred at Nashville, 
as stated by the Nashville Union : 

A slaveholder from the country approached an old 
acquaintance, also a slaveholder, residing in the city, 
and said: "I have several ne^^ro men lurkino' about 
here, somewhere. I wish you would look out for them, 
and when you find them do Avith them as if they were 
your own." 

" Certainly I will," replied his friend. 

A few days after the parties met again, and the planter 
asked, "Have you found my slaves?" 

"I have." 

" And w^here are they ?" 

"Well, you told me to with them as if they were my 

own, and as I made my men enlist in the Union army, 

I did the same with yours." 

The astounded planter absquatulated. 
11 



162 A HEROIC UNION GIRL. 



STOEY XLIII. 



A HEROIC UNION GIRL. 

Paducah, Fehruary 11, 1862. 

In tliese times of terror and peril in this district, some 
of tlie most heroic acts have been performed, but per- 
haps the noblest of all was enacted a few days since, by 
a young lady of Graves County, well known to the 
writer. Miss Anna Bassford. Her father and family 
are devotedly for the Union ; the old man having in- 
formation that the notorious H. C. King, (expelled from 
our Legislature for treason,) and his robber band, in- 
tended to visit the house for the purpose of taking 
horses, guns, &c., hid his gun, and brought his horses to 
this place. 

While here, three of King's robber band visited the 
house, demanded the gun, and alarmed Mrs. Bassford, 
who ordered a son, some fifteen years old, to find the 
gun, and deliver it to them. The boy, after considerable 
search, found the gun; the robbers then demanded a 
pistol, Avhich they were informed belonged in the family ; 
whereupon the daughter, some seventeen years old, told 
them she knew where the pistol was, but they could not 
get it. 

The robbers insisted, with loud, vulgar oaths, but the 
girl was determined; and seeing they were foiled in 
this, they ordered the feeble, sickly boy to mount up 
behind one of their clan, as they intended to take him 
to Camp Beauregard, in place of his " d — d Lincolnite 
father." 

The boy and mother in tears, protested, but to no 



A GALLANT STAND BY AN ILLINOIS COMPANY. 163 

efiect, and tlie boy was in tlie act of mounting, when 
the heroic sister stepped between her brother and the 
robbers, and, dra^\dng, cocking, and presenting the pistol, 
ordered her brother to the house, and with eagle-piercing 
eye fastened on the robbers, and death-dealing determi- 
nation in her countenance, dared them to hinder or 
touch her brother, and she would lay the one that did 
so dead at her feet. Su.fiice it to say, the three brigands 
scampered off, and left the family without further mo- 
lestation. • 



STOEY XLIY. 



A GALLANT STAND BY AN ILLINOIS COMPANY. 

.DUKING the Eebel raid in West Virginia, in the 
spring of 1863, an event occurred worthy of record. 
Captain Wallace, Company G, 23d Illinois, in command 
of a part of his company and a detachment of Company 
A, 14th Virginia, under Captain Smith, in all eighty 
men, occupied a church at the mouth of Greenland Gap, 
so advantageously placed as to command the gap, and 
compel the enemy to capture it before they could ad- 
vance. From morning until dark this brave little force 
withstood a Eebel force of fifteen hundred men. 

Three times the enemy charged up to the church, and 
were repulsed. Five out of eight of the officers of their 
first battalion were killed or wounded in the first charge. 
The number of the enemy slain was more than the whole 
force opposed to them. ^'Bravely they fought — long 
and well," but sorrowful to relate, as night drew on, the 



164 BALLOONING EXTRAORDINARY. 

enemy took advantage of the sliacle to fire tlie building. 
Even then the nndannted braves refused to surrender, 
and it was not till the blazing roof fell in, that they 
yielded. Glory to the fallen heroes. General Kelley 
pronounces it one of the most gallant afiairs of the war. 



STORY XLY 



BALLOONING EXTRAORDINARY. 

RELATED BY AN EYE-WITNESS. 

On the 11th of April, 1862, at five o'clock P. M., an 
event, both thrilling and amusing, occurred at our camp 
in front of Yorktown. The commander-in-chief had 
appointed Fitz-John Porter to conduct the siege. He 
was a soldierly New Hampshire gentleman, of the 
regular army, had fought gallantly in Mexico, was forty 
years of age, — handsome, enthusiastic, ambitious, and 
popular. He had made several ascensions with Pro- 
fessor Lowe, and learned to go aloft alone. 

One day he ascended thrice, and seemed as cosily at 
home in the firmament, as upon the solid earth. It is 
needless to say that he grew careless, and on this par- 
ticular morning, leaped into the car, and demanded the 
cables to be let out with all speed. I saw, with some 
surprise, that the flurried assistants were sending up the 
great straining canvass with a single rope attached. 

The balloon was but partially inflated, and the loose 
folds opened and shut with a crack like that of a 
musket. Noiselessly, fitfully, the yellow mass rose into 
the sky, the basket rocking like a feather in the zephyr ; 



BALLOONING EXTRAOKDINAEY. 165 

and JTist as I turned to speak to a comrade, a sound 
from overhead, like the explosion of a shell, and some- 
thing striking me across the face, laid me flat upon the 
ground. 

Half-blind and stunned, I staggered to my feet, but 
the air seemed full of cries and curses. Opening my 
eyes ruefully, I saw all faces turned upward, and when 
I looked above — the balloon was adrift. The treacher- 
ous cable, rotted with vitriol, had snapped in twain ; 
one fragment had been the cause of my downfall, and 
the other trailed, like a great entrail, from the receding 
car, where Fitz-John Porter was bounding upward, 
upon a Pegasus that he could neither check nor direct. 

The whole army was agitated by the unwonted occur- 
rence. From battery No. 1, on the brink of the York, 
to the mouth of Warwick river, every soldier and 
of&cer was absorbed. Far within the Confederate lines 
the excitement extended. We heard the enemy's 
alarm-guns, and directly the signal flags were waving 
up and down our front. 

The General appeared directly over the edge of the 
car. He was tossing his hands frightenedly, and shout- 
ing something that we could not comprehend. 

" Open the valve !" called Lowe, in his shrill tones : 
" climb — to — the — netting — ^and reach — the valve — 
rope." 

"The valve! — the valve!" repeated a multitude of 
tongues, and all gazed with thrilling interest at the 
retreating hulk, that still kept straight upward, swerving 
neither to the east nor the west. 

It was a weird spectacle — that frail, fading, oval, 
glidmg against the sky, floating in the serene azure, 
the little vessel swinging silently beneath, and a hun- 



166 BALLOONING EXTEAORDINARY. 

dred thousand martial men, watcliing the loss of their 
brother-in-arms, but powerless to relieve^ or recover 
him. Had Fitz-John Porter been drifting down the 
rapids of Niagara; he could not have been so far from 
human assistance. But we saw him directly, no bigger 
than a child's toy, clambering up the netting, and 
reaching for the cord. 

" He can't do it," muttered a man beside me ; " the 
wind blows the valve-rope to and fro, and only a spry, 
cool-headed fellow can catch it." 

We saw the General descend, and appearing again 
over the edge of the basket, he seemed to be motioning 
to the breathless hordes below, the story of his failure. 
Then he dropped out of sight, and when we next saw 
him, he was reconnoitring the Confederate works, 
through a long, black spy-glass. 

A great laugh went up and down the lines, as this 
cool procedure was observed, and then a cheer of ap- 
plause ran from group to group. For a moment it was 
doubtfal that the balloon would float in either direc- 
tion ; it seemed to faulter like an irresolute being, and 
moved reluctantly southeasterly, toward Fortress Mon- 
roe. A huzza, half uttered, quivered on every lip. 
All eyes glistened, and some were dim with tears of 
joy. Eu.t the wayward canvass now turned du.e west- 
ward, and was blown rapidly toward the Confederate 
works. Its course was finally direct, and the wind 
seemed to veer often, as if contrary currents, conscious 
of the opportunity, were struggling for the possession 
of the daring navigator. 

The south wind held mastery for a while, and the 
balloon passed the Federal front, amid a howl of despair 
from the soldiery. It kept right on, over sharp-shooters, 



BALLOONING EXTEAORDINAEY. 167 

rifle-pits, and outworks, and finally passed, as if to 
deliver np its freight^ directly over the heights of 
Yorktown. 

The cool courage; either of heroism or despair, had 
seized upon Fitz-John Porter. lie turned his black 
glass upon the ramparts and masked cannon below, 
upon the remote camps, upon the beleagured town, 
upon the guns of Gloucester Point, and upon distant 
Norfolk. 

Had he been reconnoitering from a secure perch at 
the tip of the moon, he could not have been more vigi- 
lant : and the Confederates probably thought this some 
Yankee device to peer into their sanctuary, in despite 
of ball or shell. 

None of their great guns could be brought to bear 
upon the balloon ; but there were some discharges of 
musketry that appeared to have no effect, and finally, 
even these demonstrations ceased. Both armies in 
solemn silence were gazing aloft, while the impurturable 
mariner continued to spy out the land. 

The sun was now rising behind us, and roseate rays 
struggled up to the zenith, like the arcs made by 
■ showery bomb^ They threw a hazy atmosphere upon 
the balloon, and the light shone through the net-work, 
like the sun through the ribs of the skeleton ship, in 
the " Ancient ^lariner." Then, as all looked agape, 
the air craft "plunged and racked and veered," and 
drifted rapidly toward the Federal lines again. 

The hallelujah that now went up shook the spheres, 
and when he had regained our camp-limits, the General 
was seen clambering up again, to clutch the valve-rope. . 
This time he was successful, and the balloon fell sud- 
denly, so that all hearts once more leaped up, and the 
cheers were hushed. 



168 BATTLE OF CHANCELLORVILLE — INCIDENTS. 

Cavalry rode pell-mell from several directions; to 
reach, tlie place of descent ; and the General's personal 
staff galloped past me like the wind, to be the first at 
his debarkation. I followed the throng of soldiers 
with due haste^ and came up to the horsemen in a few 
minutes. 

The balloon had struck a canvass tent with great 
violence, felling it as by a bolt, and the Greneral, un- 
harmed, had disentangled himself from innumerable 
folds of oiled canvass, and was now the cynosure of an 
immense number of people. 

While the officers shook his hands, the rabble bawled 
their satisfaction in hurrahs, and a band of music 
marching up directly, the throng of foot and horse 
gave him a vociferous escort to his quarters. 



STOEY XLYI. 



INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORVILLE. 

From Captain William D. Wilkins, Xof the staff of 
General A. S. Williams, commander of a division of 
the Twelfth Army Corps,) who was wounded and taken 
prisoner at the battle of Chancellorville, and subse- 
quently paroled and returned to Detroit, the Free Press 
learned some interesting particulars. 

The captain was placed in charge of a squad and 
taken to a plank road in the rear, where he met General 
■Jackson and staff. Jackson had at this time formed a 
column of attack on the plank road, with the design of 
flanking our army, and obtaining possession of the 



BATTLE OF CHANCELLORVILLE — INCIDENTS. 169 

United States Ford, wliicli would undoubtedly have 
resulted in the total discomfiture of our army. The 
column consisted of 15,000 men and three batteries of 
artillery. 

Jackson was sitting on his horse at the head of the 
column, surrounded by his staff. He had a peculiarly 
sad and gloomy expression of countenance, as though 
he already had a premonition of his fate. It was but 
fifteen minutes later that he was mortally wounded. 

As they came into his presence, the guard announced 
" a Yankee officer." Captain Wilkins asked if it was 
Major-General Thomas J. Jackson? On being answered 
in the affirmative, he raised his hat. General Jackson 
said, " A regular army officer, I suppose ; your officers 
do not often salute ours." Captain Wilkins replied, 
" No, I am not ; I salute you out of respect to you as a 
gallant officer." He then asked his name and rank. 
On being informed, he further inquired what corps and 
commanders were opposed in front. Captain Wilkins 
replied that as an of&cer he could not return a truthful 
answer to such questions. Jackson then turned to the 
guard and ordered them to search him. 

He then had in the breast pocket of his coat Hooker's 
confidential orders to corps commanders, giving a plan, 
in part, of the campaign, the countersigns of the field 
for a week in advance, and the field returns of the 
Twelfth Corps on the preceding day. These were all 
exceedingly important papers. 

Fortunately, before the guard could carry the orders 
into execution, a terrific raking fire was opened on 
Jackson's column by twenty pieces of artillery, com- 
manded by Captain Best, from an eminence on the 

plank road. The first eight or ten shots flew over the 
p 



170 BATTLE OF CHANCELLORVILLE — INCIDENTS. 

heads of the column. The men and gunners dismounted, 
leaving their horses and guns. Our artillery soon got 
the range with more precision, and the shell and round 
shot ricocheted and plowed through this dense mass of 
the enemy with terrific effect. Shells were continually 
bursting, and the screams and groans of the wounded 
and dying could be heard on every side. 

As an instance of the terrible effect of this fire, one 
of the guard was struck by a solid shot just below the 
hips, sweeping off both his legs. A battery came dash- 
ing up, but when they got into the vortex of the fire, 
the gunners fled, deserting their guns, and could not be 
made to man them. An officer, splendidly mounted 
and equipped, attempted in a most gallant manner to 
rally them. A ball struck him on the neck, completely 
severing his head from his body, and leaving his spinal 
column standing. His body rolled to the ground and 
and his horse galloped to the rear. 

One of the shells struck a caisson full of artillery 
ammunition, which exploding, ascended in a crator of 
various colored flame, and showered down on the 
heads of the men below a mass of fragments of shot 
and shell. The loss inflicted by this fire must have 
been terrible ; placing considerably over one thousand 
men hors de combat, and effectually breaking up the 
contemplated attack of the column. 

An officer of Jackson's staff subsequently stated that 
it was about fifteen minutes after this that General Jack- 
son with staff advanced to the front, to reconnoiter our 
position ; having accomplished which, he returned by a 
diflerent path toward his own men, who mistaking his 
approach for that of a party of our cavalry, fired upon 
him, killing and wounding four of his staff, and wound- 



STORY OF GENERAL m'CELLAN. 171 

ing Jackson, once in tlie right arm, and twice in the 
left arm and hand. 

While Captain Wilkins was being taken to the rear, 
he devoted his attention to disposing of the important 
papers which he had on his person. He dared not 
take them from his pocket to attempt to tear them 
up, but constantly kept his hand in his pocket, and 
worked the papers into a ball, and as they were passing 
along, got them into his bosom, and finally into the pit 
under his arm, where he carried them all that night. 

The next morning the guard halted to get their break- 
fast, and a soldier Avas trying to kindle a fire to cook 
some coffee which they had taken from our men. The 
wood was damp and the fire refused to burn. The 
soldier swore at it until his patience gave out, when Cap- 
tain Wilkins asked him if he would not like some 
kindlings, and handed him the important papers. The 
soldier took them, and not dreaming of their import- 
ance, used them to kindle his fire. 



STOEY ^LYII. 



STORY OF GENERAL McCLELLAN. 

The Washington Correspondent of the Philadelphia 
Inquirer, is responsible for the following story of Greneral 
McClellan, while in command of the army of the Po- 
tomac: "General McClellan was in the habit of ridins^ 

o 

around occasionally, in citizen's dress, accompanied by 
a few of his stafi*. One day he was walking through 
one of the encampments, and passing the rear of the 



172 STORY OF GENERAL m'CLELLAN-. 

tents, he saw a bucket of coffee standing near a fire. 
He asked wliat it was, and one of the soldiers said 
^coffee.' 'It looks more like slops/ lie replied. ' Oli/ 
said the soldier, ' it is not fit to drink, but we have to 
pnt up with it; and our other food is not a bit better.' 
'Well, whose fault is it?' he asked. 'Oh, our Quarter- 
master is drunk most of the time, and when he is not, 
he is studying how to cheat.' 

"McClellan passed on, and seeing more evidence of 
the dirty and slovenly manner in which the Quarter- 
master conducted his operations in his tent, he accosted 
him with the remark that the men were complaining of 
bad treatment from him. The Quartermaster flew into 
a passion, and swore it was none of his business ; and he 
had better not come sneaking around trying to make 
mischief. McClellan answered him, telling him he had 
better be cautions how he talked. Quartermaster re- 
plied, 'Who are you, that you assume so much ap- 
parent authority?' 'I am George B. McClellan, and 
you can pack up your traps and leave.' The Quarter- 
master was struck dumb, and McClellan turned and 
left him. 

" That evening the Quartermaster left to the tune of 
the ' Eogue's March,' played by some of the boj^s who 
had got wind of it. He was superseded by a Quarter- 
master who did not 'get drunk and cheat.' The story 
was soon circulated around some of the camps, and the 
officers kept on the lookout for the General, and of 
course did not have much lying around loose : and the 
men were ready to risk their lives at the cannon's 
mouth for the man who did care how they were pro- 
vided for." 



178 



MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN. 



George B. McClellan", tlie son of a physician of 
Philadelpliia; was born in tliat city, December 3d, 1826. 
He entered West Point Academy at the age of sixteen, 
and graduated at twenty, as brevet Second Lieutenant 
of Engineers. He served in the Mexican war, with a 
company of sappers and miners, as Second Lieutenant, 
was breveted First Lieutenant at Contreras, and Captain 
after the capture of the City of Mexico. 

After the war he remained on duty with the sappers 
and miners, at West Point, until June, 1851. He next 
served as Engineer at the construction of Fort Delaware. 

In the spring of 1852 he was assigned to duty imder 
Major E. B. Marcy, in the Expedition for the Explora- 
tion of Eed Eiver. Thence he was ordered direct to 
Texas, as Senior Engineer on the staff of General Per- 
sifer F. Smith, and was engaged on the coast of Texas, 
on surveys of Elvers and Harbors. 

In 1853 he was ordered to the Pacific coast, in com- 
mand of the Western Division of the Survey of the 
North Pacific Eailroad route. He returned to the East 
in 1854, on duty connected mth the Pacific survey. 

The folio-wing year he received a commission in the 
1st Eegiment of Cavalry, and was sent to Europe as a 
member of the Military Commission, to the seat of war, 
in the Crimea, and in Northern Eussia. 

He resigned in January, 1857, to take the position of 
Yice-President and Chief Engineer of the Illinois Cen- 
tral Eailroad, which he held about three years, and re- 
linquished for the presidency of the Ohio and Mississippi 
Eailroad Company, of which he also acted as General 
Superintendent; and was acting in that capacity when 
the rebellion broke out. 



174 LITTLE EDDIE THE DRUMMEE BOY. 

In the month of April, 1861, he was appointed Major- 
General of the Ohio State forces, mnstered into the 
United States service April 23d of that year, and on 
the 14th of May, ensuing, was commissioned as Major- 
General in the United States army, and assigned to the 
Department of Ohio, including Western Virginia = Since 
then his course is of public notoriety. 



STOEY XLYIII. 



LITTLE EDDIE THE DRUMMER BOY OF EAST TENNESSEE. 

I have a sad tale worth relating, 

And stating to you ; 
And more so, by my estimating. 

Because it is true. 
'Tis about little Eddie, the drummer, 

And young refugee ; 
Whose mother, with him was a comer 

From East Tennessee. 

'Twas a few days before we had orders, 

Brave Lyon to join. 
And march to where Wilson's creek borders 

Missouri's fair line. 
That our drummer was sick and unable 

More duty to do. 
When a " contraband," stalwart and sable, 

Our lines ventured through. 

Then straightway the " boy" was arrested, 

And marched to the tent ; 
Where our captain politely requested — 

" For what was you sent ?" 
He replied that he knew of a drummer, 

Would like to enlist, — 
A boy who was lately a comer 

From Tennessee —East. 



LITTLE EDDIE THE DRUMMER BOY. 175 

The captain commanded, " inform him, 

I'll give extra pay. 
If he'll be on the ground in the morning, 

For marching away," 
A good-looking middle aged woman, 

Next morning was seen, 
With a lad, sharp and sprightly uncommon, 

Not more than thirteen. 

Her story was briefly narrated — 

A poor refugee, 
By murderous Rebels unmated. 

In East Tennessee- 
She sought in St. Louis a sister. 

Her burden to share ; 
But she had unluckily missed her — 

Not finding her there. 

She craved but the boon of a station. 

For her drummer boy ; 
Then she, in some honest vocation. 

Her time would employ. 
Thus having rehearsed her brief story, 

The captain looked grum : 
" Fear not," cried the lad, '' it's my glory, 

And sure I can drum." 

Said the captain, " Well, w^ell, (to the sergeant,) 

" The fifer must come, 
Go tell him our business is urgent, 

And bring you the drum." 
. By side of the long legged fifer. 

From far Illinois, 
He seemed a diminutive cypher. 

That refugee boy. 

Stooping down from his tall elevation, 

To see who had come. 
The fifer made interrogation, 

*' My man can you drum ?" 



176 LITTLE EDDIE THE DRUMMER BOY. 

"Yes, sir ; 1 wish that last summer, 
You'd been there to see. 

How for brave Captain Hill I was drummer, 
In East Tennessee." 

The fifer struck up, (for his trying,) 

A beautiful tune ; 
Which at once set his drum sticks a flying, 

Like hail stones in June. 
Was it fifing, or piping, or tooting, * 

Of diflBcuIt chime. 
The drummer boy skillfully put in. 

The rub-a-dub time. 

Says the captain, ^' good madam, I'll take him, 

Pray what is his name ?" 
** EdAvard Lee," she said, " do not forsake him, 

Return him the same." 
Said he, " In six weeks we'll restore, 

It cannot be more ; 
Should he 'scape all the dangers before him, 

And may-be in four." 

Said she, " I trust him in your keeping ." 

And fast fell her tears — 
She kissed Eddie, and went away weeping, 

AVith motherly fears. 
We marched, and were soon in that battle. 

Too dreadful to tell, — 
Boomed the cannons, and muskets did rattle, 

And brave Lyon fell ! 

The night after that terrible hissing 
or balls in the air, 

Little Eddie was counted as missing, 
But no one knew where. 

•3«- -Jfr * -x- -X- -Sf 

On guard as the morning was breaking, 
Soon to my ears come, 

The sound, there could be no mistaking. 
The sound of his drum. 



LITTLE EDDIE THE DRUMMER BOY. 177 

That sound, when permitted to follow, 

Little Eddie, I found, 
With his back to a log in the hollow. 

His seat was the ground. 
His drum, which was hanging quite near him, 

On a bush that grew there. 
He beat that his comrades might hear him, 

And come to his care. 

He saw me, and then stopped his drumming, 

As quick as you'd think — 
" corporal, I'm glad of your coming, 

0, give me some drink !" 
I turned to the brook for some water, 

My canteen was dry — 
"0, corporal," he cried do not loiter. 

And leave me to die !" 

Returning I quickly discovered 

That both of his feet, 
As he sat with his limbs all uncovered, 

Were shot off complete ! 
He drank, then said, " do but assure me 

You don't think I'll die ! 
This man said the surgeon could cure me, 

This man that's near by." 

I perceived that a Rebel lay near him. 

Whose spirit had fled : 
Pitying Eddie, he had tried to cheer him, 

Himself was now dead. 
He was shot in his bowels, (so said he,) 

And crawled along there, 
And trying to save little Eddie, 

He died without care. 

He had taken his buckskin suspender, 

And corded each limb 
Of Eddie so careful and tender — 

The Lord pity him ! 
12 



178 VENTURESOME AND SUCCESSFUL SCOUTING. 

While hearing this pitiful story, 

And viewing- the scene, 

The foe rushed upon us, all gory, 
Adown the ravine. 

The leader took up little Eddie, 

And quickly we sped, 
And soon reached their camp, wdien already 

The poor boy was dead ! 
His mother, now w^ailing and mourning, 

A poor refugee ; 
God grant her a happy returning 

To East Tennessee. 



STOEY XLIX. 



VENTURESOME AND SUCCESSFUL SCOUTING EXPEDITION. 

Captain S. Bard, witli a scouting party of twenty- 
eight horsemen, left Covington about four o'clock on 
Sunday evening, taking the Independence pike, and 
when about eight miles out, branching off to the right. 

The night being fine, they rode the greater part of 
the time, and after having gone a distance of about 
twenty- seven miles, they returned, passing near a little 
settlement called Ficksville. Captain Bard was at this 
time a hundred yards in advance of his party, and 
came upon an armed horseman. As he approached 
him, he opened with — " Good morning." 

" Good morning," replied the horseman. 

" Is there any danger about here ?" said Captain Bard. 

"From whom?" 

"Why, from the Federals." 

" Oh, no," was the reply ; " there's no danger of them 



A FEMALE SOLDIER AND HER EXPERIENCE. 179 

about here; tliere is none of tliem in this neighbor- 
hood." 

''Think not?" said Captain Bard; "suppose you de- 
liver up your fire-arms ;" and at this moment he pulled 
out a pistol and pointed it directly at the Rebel Captain, 
for such he appeared to be. 

"Why, you are joking, ain't you?" said Eeb. 

" N'o ; I'm in earnest ; I want them right away." The 
latter part of the sentence was delivered in an emphatic 
manner ; and Captain Butternut, (for he would not give 
his name,) unbuckled his belt, in which were the pistols, 
a Colt's navy revolver, and a five-nick cartridge pistol, 
and delivered it to Captain Bard, at the same time re- 
marking : 

" Caught at last, after eighteen months' service. I'll 
go along." 

A Eebel private near by yielded himself a prisoner 
at once. By this time a number of Bard's men had 
come up. 



STORY L. 



A FEMALE SOLDIER AND HER EXPERIENCE. 

In the month of May, 1863, a young woman arrived 
at Chicago from Louisville, Ky., whose history is thus 
related in the Chicago Post : 

" She gave her name as Annie Lilly bridge, of Detroit, 
and stated that her parents reside in Hamilton, C. W. 
Last spring, (1862,) she was employed in a drygoods 
store in Detroit, where she became acquainted with a 
Lieutenant W , of one of the Michigan regiments, 



180 A FEMALE SOLDIER AND HER EXPERIENCE. 

and an intimacy immediately sprang up between them. 
They corresponded for some time, and became mucli 
attached to each other. Some time during the ensuing 
summer Lieutenant W , was appointed to a posi- 
tion in the 21st Michigan Infantry, then rendezvousing 
in Ionia county. 

'' The thought of parting from the gay lieutenant 
nearly drove her mad, and she resolved to share his 
dangers and be near him. No sooner had she resolved 
upon this cou.rse than she proceeded to act. Purchas- 
ing male attire she visited Ionia, enlisted in Captain 
Kavanah's Company, 21st Eegiment. A¥hile in camp 
she managed to keep her secret from all — not even the 
object of her attachment, who met her every day, was 
aware of her presence so near him. 

"Annie left with her regiment for Kentucky, passed 
through all the dangers and temptations of a camp-life, 
endured long marches, and sleeping on the cold ground 
without a murmur. At last, before the battle of Pea 
Eidge, in which her regiment took part, her sex was 
discovered by a member of her company, and she 
enjoined secresy upon him, after relating her previous 
history. 

" On the following day she was under fire, and from 
a letter in her possession, it appears she behaved with 
marked gallantry, and by her own hand shot a Eebel 
captain who was in the act of firing upon Lieutenant 
"VV . But the fear of revealing her sex continu- 
ally haunted her. 

"After the battle, she was sent out with others to 
collect the wounded, and one of the first corpses found 
by her was the soldier who had discovered her sex. 
Days and weeks passed on and she became a universal 



A FEMALE SOLDIER AND HER EXPERIENCE. 181 

favorite with the regiment ; so mucli so, that her Colonel 
(Stephens) frequently detailed her as regimental clerk 
— a position that brought her in close contact with her 
lover, who at this time, was Major, or Adjutant of the 
regiment. 

"A few weeks subsequently, she was out on picket 
duty, when she received a shot in the arm that disabled 
her, and notwithstanding the efforts of the surgeon, her 
wound continually grew worse. She was sent to the 
hospital at Louisville, where she remained several 
months, when she was discharged by the post surgeon, 
as her arm was stiffened and rendered useless. 

" She implored to be permitted to return to her regi- 
ment, but the surgeon was unyielding, and discharged 
her. Annie immediately hurried toward home. At 
Cincinnati she told her secret to a benevolent lady, and 
and was supplied with female attire. 

" She declares that she will enlist in her old regiment 
again, if there is a recruiting oflS.cer for the 21st in 
Michigan. She still clings to the Lieutenant, and says 
she must be near him if he falls, or is taken down sick ; 
that where he goes, she will go ; and when he dies, she 
will end her life by her own hands." 



An anecdote is reported characteristic of the brave 
McCook. When advancing in Tennessee, the Rebel 
General Buckner sent to him by a flag of truce a mes- 
sage, the purport of which was, that unless he withdrew 
his troops from the State, within fifteen days, he, (Buck- 
ner,) would annihilate them. Our gallant general's 
only reply was a cannon-hall, which he gave to the 
emissary, telling him to deliver it to Buckner. 
Q 



182 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT. 



LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT. 



Lieutenant- General Ulysses S. Grant was iDorn 
at Point Pleasant, Ohio, April 27, 1822, and graduated 
at West Point in 1813., (twenty-first of a class number- 
ing thirty-nine members,) as brevet second lieutenant in 
the Fourth Infantry. 

In the Mexican war he participated in Taylor's 
battles at Palo Alto, Eeseca de la Palma, and Monterey, 
Afterward his regiment joined Scott at Yera Cruz, and 
Lieutenant Grant took part in every engagement up to 
the city of Mexico, receiving brevet first lieutenant and 
captain for meritorious conduct at the battle of Molino 
del Eey and Chepultepec. 

At the close of the war his regiment went to Oregon, 
where he was promoted to a captaincy, but resigned in 
1853, and settled in St. Louis. In 1859 he removed to 
Galena, 111., where he was engaged in commercial busi- 
ness when the rebellion broke out. He was among the 
first to offer his services to Governor Yates, and was 
made colonel of 21st Illinois Yolunteers, with which he 
went into service in Missouri. 

In the summer of 1861, he was made brigadier-gene- 
ral, and assigned to the district of Cairo. He immedi- 
ately occupied Paducah, Kentucky ; stopped the flow 
of supplies for the Eebels up the Tennessee and Cum- 
berland ; moved soon after on Belmont, Mo., opposite 
the Kebel stronghold at Columbus, Ky., from which 
place he was driven only after a desperate fight, by a 
largely superior force of Eebels. 

In February, 1862, he led the land forces sent against 
Fort Henry, but did not participate in the victory ; the 



LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT. 183 

gunboats having clone tlie work before he got there. 
Thereupon he marched forthwith upon Fort Donelson, 
which place he besieged and assaulted, and on the 16th 
of February, the Kebels raised the white flag, (Pillow 
and Floyd having stolen off during the night, with 5.000 
men, leaving Buckner to surrender,) and sent to Grant 
for terms. 

He replied that the surrender must be imconditional, 
or he would instantly move on the works. This short 
and soldierly answer gave him the sohriquet of Uncon- 
ditional Surrender Grant, the initials being the same as 
of his real name. This fortunate and fairly won vic- 
tory was rewarded by a major- general's commission. 

In April he reached Pittsburg Landing, Buell being 
in his rear with reinforcements, for which, however, the 
Eebels did not wait, but made a furious onslaught 
upon Grant, who was forced back to the shelter of the 
gunboats, where he resisted Johnson mth success. 

The next day Buell came up, and the Eebels got a 
severe flogging at what they call the battle of Shiloh, 
their commander. General Albert S. Johnson, being 
killed. His subsequent operations, culminating in the 
capture of Yicksburg, and the opening of the Missis- 
sippi river, are fresh in the public mind. 

General Grant is a plain man, about five feet nine 
inches in height, has sandy hair and whiskers, blue 
eyes, a firm, determined mouth, well shaped nose, and a 
complexion that shoAvs the efiects of exposure. He has 
a good form, and stands squarely on his feet. He never 
uses profane language, is almost a model of temperance, 
with the exception of continual smoking. 

He is of a taciturn habit, attending closely to business, 
methodical and cautious, though full of daring and dash, 



184 DEATH OF COL. J. L. KIRBY SMITH. 

if need be, and prides himself on his horsemanship. 
Fortunately General Grant is a soldier, and nothing bnt 
a soldier, having no aspirations for political preferment. 
Congress having by law revived the rank of lieuten- 
ant-general. President Lincoln appointed General Grant 
to that high office, and on the 9th day of March, 1864, 
commissioned him, in presence of the entire cabinet, 
General Halleck, and several others : addressing him as 
follows: "General Grant —in consequence of the nation's 
appreciation of what you have done, and its reliance 
upon you for what remains to do in the existing great 
struggle, you are now presented with this commission, 
constituting you lieutenant-general in the army of the 
United States. With this high honor devolves upon you, 
also, a corresponding responsibility. As the country 
herein trusts you, so under God it will sustain you. I 
scarcely need to add that with what I here speak for 
the nation, goes my own hearty, personal concurrence." 
General Grant replied in appropriate terms. 



STOKY LI. 



DEATH OF COLONEL J. L. KIRBY SMITH, OF THE 43d I. O. V. 

Soon in the battle of the 4th inst. (battle of Corinth, 
October, 1862), Colonel J. L. Kirby Smith, of the 43d 
Ohio fell, with a mortal wound. I have not words to 
describe the qualities of this model soldier, or to express 
the loss we have sustained in his death. The best testi- 
mony I can give to his memory, is the spectacle wit- 
nessed by myself in the very moment of battle, of stern, 
brave men, weeping like children, as the word passed, 
"Kirby Smith is killed." — [General Stanley's Ee- 
PORT — Battle of Corinth.] 



DEATH OF COL. J. L. KIEBY SMITH. 185 

Let tears cease to flow — in vain we deplore him. 
The night-clond of death has forever closed o'er him : 
Dim is the eye late so radiant with fire, 
As perish'd the son, so perish'd the sire !* 

He was young, he was pious, and dauntlessly brave : 
A spirit more beautiful God never gave ; 
While genius and science beamed forth from his mind, 
Truth, honor, and love, in his heart were enshrin'd. 

His present, how brilliant ! his future how grand I 
Hope saw him the peer of the first in the land : 
Death smote him in battle ; light turn'd into gloom, 
And hope, and the hero now sleep in the tomb ! 

The pride of the army ; fond lover and son, 
Too soon for his country, his proud race was run ! 
But ah ! who can paint the sad anguish in store, 
For the mother and maiden who'll see him no more ! 

The patriot's afi'ection will hallow his name, 

The love of his comrades will cherish his fame : 

For the cause of his country his life-blood was given ; 

His, the homage of earth, and the glory of heaven. [S.] 

The 43d Oliio Eegiment was on the left of Fort Eobi- 
nett, and on the left of the 63d, under the ridge ; but 
when the desperate attempt to storm that redoubt was 
made by the Eebels, under Texas Eogers, we were 
brought into action by changing front forward on the 
first company, which rested on the fort ; and this enabled 
us to pour in a cross fire, which sent the Eebel column 
staggering to the rear. 

The loss of our regiment (the 43d) in the few mo- 
ments, required to execute that movement, attests the 
hazard of the move, and the steadiness, and daunt- 

* Colonel Smith's father was slain in storming a battery at 
Molino del Ray, in Mexico. 



186 DEATH OF COL. J. L. KIRBY SMITH. 

less courage of tlie men wlio made it. Here, within the 
space of ten minutes, ninety of our boys were smitten to 
the earth by a hurricane of lead. . Here fell dead several 
of our best and bravest officers, among the first of whom, 
was our brave and accomplished Colonel, J. L. Kirby 
Smith, than whom, no more perfect soldier or heroic 
man has yielded his life during this bloody war. 

Colonel J. L. Kirby Smith was a native of New York, 
and was in the twenty-fifth year of his age when he fell, 
mortally wounded, by a bullet passing through his jaw, 
and coming out under his ear. He lingered in great 
suffering, in a state of consciousness, but unable to speak, 
until Sunday evening, when he died. 

His remains were taken to Ohio for interment, by 
Lieutenant Colonel Swayne, of the 43d. 

He graduated at West Point in 1857, and held a 
Lieutenant's commission in the regular army upon the 
breaking out of the rebellion ; when he was appointed 
Colonel of the 43d Ohio Infantry, which he organized 
at Mount Yernon, and took the field in February, 1862, 
and served with distinction in General Pope's command, 
throughout the Island- Numher- Ten campaign. As a 
military man, he had few if any superiors among all the 
Ohio colonels. His loss to the regiment is irreparable. 

Colonel Smith's father, Captain E. Kirby Smith, was 
killed at the head of his company in Worth's terrible 
charge at the battle of Molino del Eey, Mexico, shot 
through the head. Father and son have shared a 
soldier's fate, both fallen in the fray, battling for the 
right. The same volley which wounded Colonel Smith, 
also killed Captain J. M. Spangler, of Company A, and 
also mortally wounded Adjutant Charles C. Heyl, of 
Columbus, an intimate friend of the Colonel. 



THE HEKO OF COKINTH. 187 



STOEY LIL 



THE HERO OF CORINTH. 

Private Orrin B. Gould, of Co. G, 27tli Ohio, was 
the hero of the Battle of Corinth. The following letter 
to Governor Tod, from Colonel John W. Fuller, com- 
mander of Brigade, gives the history of young Gould's 
heroic conduct. It has been announced that the Go- 
vernor had promoted him to a captaincy, and though 
severely wounded, his recovery was not despaired of. 
Colonel Fuller's letter is as follows : 



"Headquarters, 1st Brigade, 2d Division 
" Army of the Mississippi. 
" Near Ripley, Miss., October 9th, 186: 



-J 



*'To the Governor of Ohio: 

" Sir, — I have the honor of forwarding to your Ex- 
cellency, the " Battle-Flag" of the 9th Texas Regiment, 
which was captured by a private of the 27th Ohio In- 
fantry, at the battle of Corinth, October 4th, 1862. 

" The Rebels, in four close columns, were pressing with 
gallantry, amounting to recklessness, upon the Ohio 
Brigade, with the evident intention of breaking our 
lines, when the terrible and incessant fire of our men 
drove them back in the utmost confusion. 

" The 6th Texas bore down upon the left centre of the 
27th Ohio, with this flag at the head of their column, 
and advanced to within six or eight yards of our lines, 
when Orrin B. Gould, a private of Company G, shot 
down the color-bearer, and rushed forward for the 
Rebel flag. 

"A Rebel of&cer shouted to his men to ^ save the 
color,' and at the same moment put a bullet into the 



188 lEON CLAD BEEASTWOEKS. 

breast of Gould, but the young hero was not to be in- 
timidated. With the flag- staff in his hand, and the 
bullet in his breast, he returned to his regiment, waving 
the former defiantly in the faces of the enemy. 

"After the battle, when visiting the hospitals, I found 
young Gould stretched upon a cot, evidently in great 
pain. -Upon seeing me his .pale face was instantly 
radiant with smiles, and pointing to his wound, he said, 
' Colonel, I don't care for this, since I got their flag.' 

" I have the honor to be your Excellency's obedient 
servant, 

"John W. Flfllee, 

" Colonel commanding 1st Brigade, 2d Division. 

"Hon. David Tod, 

" Governor of Ohio." 



STOEY LIII, 



IRON CLAD BREASTWORKS. 

While search was being made of the passengers on 
the central train, one evening in June, 1863, a soldier 
noticed that a lady's dress appeared more full breasted 
than it naturally should be ; and his quick e3^e also 
detected the fact that the artificial contents of the lady's 
bosom were pressed out against the folds of the dress, 
so as to make it almost certain that pistols were there. 

He was a very polite soldier, and in the most gentle- 
manly manner approached the lady and said: "Madam, 
I want those revolvers." She replied indignantly: "'Sir, 
I am a respectable woman, and have no revolvers." 
The soldier again said, very coolly: "Madam, I wish 
you to give me those revolvers, and pointed to her 
bosom. She again denied that she had any. 



FUN IN CAMP. — A DOG STORY. 189 

Wifhout further parleying, the soldier, in discharge 
of his duty, thrust his hand into the place of conceal- 
ment and drew out a revolver, and kept on repeating 
the operation until seven were captured. Then gath- 
ering up the pistols, he politely remarked to the lady : 
"Madam, your breastworks seem to have been iron 
clad." 



STOEY LIY. 



FUN IN CAMP.— A DOG STORY. 

A RICH story is told of the boys in the 2d Vermont 
regiment. It seems that the men of a certain New 
Jersey regiment had repeatedly stolen the fresh meat 
from the Vermont boys in the night, and appropriated 
it to their own use. Some of the Vermont boys there- 
upon killed a dog, dressed it neatly, and hung it up in 
the quartermaster's department. 

The Jerseys, mistaking it for mutton, stole it, as usual, 
and bore it off in triumph. The Vermonters were on 
the watch, and ascertained that it was served up the 
next day upon the table of the Jersey officers. 

The joke soon became public, and the Jerseys were 
greeted, when they visited the camp of the Vermonters, 
with a "bow-wow," by way of friendly salutation. 

The point of this practical joke, as we were told it 
at the camp of the Vermonters, where the affair occurred, 
is omitted in the above narrative. The dog which the 
mischievous wags converted into mutton, for the benefit 
of their foraging New Jersey neighbors, was a fine New- 
foundlander, belonging to the New Jersey colonel. The 
story in camp goes that a leg of the sacrificed animal 
was served up at his master's own table. 



190 THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOG STORY. 



STOKY LY. 



THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOG STORY. =* 

Having given an amusing account (page 189) of the 
joke practiced hj the 2d Yermont regiment on the 26th 
New Jersey, it is but just to give the Jersey boys the 
benefit of their version of the matter, by which it ap- 
pears that the Yermonters were, after all, the victims of 
their own enterprize. It is as follows : 

A long-legged, long-bodied, long-tailed feminine ca- 
nine, for several weeks had roamed throughout the 
ranks of the brigade, like the ghost of '' Snarleyow," 
keeping the soldiers awake by her midnight bowlings. 
The butchers of the 2d Yermont caught, killed and 
dressed the canine, hanging the carcass on a tree in a 
grove fronting the camp of the 26th, as a bait for the 
Jersey boys, who they fondly hoped would take it for 
mutton. This probably would have been the case, had 
not a Jersey teamster, William Fagan, while loading 
the slaughtered beeves of that morning, observed their 
proceedings, and placed the 26th upon their guard. 
Some of their boys, thereupon, under cover of twilight, 
took the carcass into camp, and transmogrified it into 
very nice looking head-cheese, which was retailed the 
next day through the Yermont camps at ten cents a roll. 

The Yermonters missed the carcass, and presumed, 
of course that the '• Jerseys" had swallowed the bait. 
But it is not difficult to picture their dismay, when the 
jubilant question, "How are you dog?" was answered 

* The reader is notified that the compiler does not vouch for 
the truth of this or Story JAY. 



JENKINS MODE OF PAEOLKTG PRISONERS. 101 

with the significant reply, "How ,are you head- cheese?" 
The latent influence of the head- cheese reposing uneasily 
upon their Green Mountain stomachs, displayed itself 
in "bow-wow," whenever a Jerseyman hove in sight. 
The " Jerseys" solaced themselves in whistling for the 
lost canine, but she never reappeared. And thus were 
the biters bitten. 



STORY LVL 



JENKINS' MODE OF PAROLING PRISONERS. 

On the arrival of the Rebels at Hagerstown, in their 
great raid of 1863, a lieutenant and five men, wearing 
the Federal uniform, crept out of the house where they 
had been hiding, and gave themselves up to be paroled. 
They told Jenkins that they did not wish to fight any 
longer against their Sou.thern brethren. The reply of 
the general must have greatly astonished the cowardly 
traitors. He indignantly rejected their claim of brother- 
hood ; told them that if he had a twenty-fifth cousin 
as white-livered as they were, 1^ would kill him and set 
him up in his barn -yard to make sheep own their lambs ; 
and concluded by detailing six "good lusty fellows 
with thick boots" to " parole" the recreant Federals by 
vigorously kicking them out of the camp, to the west 
border of the town. 

It is said that the Rebel soldiers were highly tickled 
with the scene, and highly approved of Jenkins's mode 
of paroling cowards. The six miserable poltroons must 
have felt very differently. "What an encouraging pros- 
pect it must have been for Federal deserters. 



192 EEV. GEANVILLE MOODY. 



STOEY LVII 



REV. GRANVILLE MOODY, COLONEL OF THE 74TH OHIO. 

Colonel Moody was one of the most popular Colo- 
nels in Middle Tennessee. The Secesh call him " the 
Go-Devil-Preacher- Colonel." His popularity is attrib- 
utable to a peculiar manner he has of taking hold of 
things. 

Shortly after the Colonel was ordered to " occupy, 
hold^ and possess," Franklin, Tennessee, one of the 
larger sized Seceshers came into his of&ce on business, 
and during a conversation which ensued, informed the 
Colonel that he was " a liar." The Colonel threw out 
his right, took him in the "tater trap," and brought his 
man. 

The Colonel was out taking a walk one evening. 
He observed his black charger in the distance, coming 
at full speed, and, as he approached, was surprised to 
see that he was mounted by an individual dressed in 
butternut clothes. The Colonel sprang into the middle 
of the street, and as the h«rse was passing, seized the rein 
with one hand, and ye breast of ye butternut with the 
other, bringing said butternut to the ground, head fore- 
most, as he checked the steed. Had the Colonel missed 
his hold he would never have seen his charger again, 
for the rider was a Kebel horse thief. 

A Eebel, while under arrest, complained that armed 
men stood about him all the time, stating that if he just 
had a chance, he could whip as many Yankees as would 
come at him fair. The Colonel ordered, " Sergeant, put 
down that gun, put away that pistol and belt. Now, sir," 



193 

addressing the figliting Secesli, " try that fellow ; you 
shall have fair play. I give you my word and honor, if 
you can whip him, you sha 11 not be interfered with." 
Butternut backed oat, and acknowledged that he had 
just been acting the fool. 

The Colonel was never known, but in a single 
instance, to give up property of any kind he had once 
taken, and that instance was w^hen a Secesh woman 
declared that the last words of her dying husband were, 
" wife, take care of them three bags of salt." One of 
the bags of salt was returned. 

The Colonel took possession of all surplus provender 
that could be found in his reach ; if it belonored to a 
Union man, he gave a Grovernment receipt for it ; but 
if it belonged to a Eebel, that was the end of it. 



STORY LYIII. 



COLONEL LAWSON'S PAROLE. 

A St. Louis paper of December 20th, 1862, gives 
the following good story of Colonel Lawson. It seems 
that he was captured some two weeks previous to that 
date, by an irregular bodjr of the Rebels, alias guerillas, 
numbering nearly one hundred. At first they threat- 
ened to shoot him, but finally decided to release him on 
parole. Upon investigation, it proved that of the 
Rebels who then had him in charge — about a dozen — 
not one could write a parole, or any thing else. 
Through their whole youth they had never been sub- 
jected to the pernicious influence of free schools. 
R 13 



194 GENERAL NELSON's MULE TEAMSTER. 

At last tliey requested Colonel Lawson liimself to 
make out the parole and sign it. He immediately wrote 
an agreement; solemnly pledging himself never to take 
up arms against the United States of America, or in -any 
way give aid and comfort to their enemies, — signed it, 
and was set at liberty. He made the best of his way to 
our lines, and was not overtaken. 

It is surmised that when that parole fell into the 
hands of some Eebel officer who could read, it evoked a 
good many maledictions upon the head of the " Yankee 
trickster." 



STOEY LIX. 



A PRACTICAL JOKE ON GEN. NELSON'S MULE TEAMSTER. 

Our boys are furious for practical jokes, and are con- 
stantly on the watch for subjects. One was recently 
found in the person of a new teamster, who had the 
charge of six large, shaggy mules. John was the pro- 
prietor of two bottles of old Bourbon — a contraband in 
camp — which a wag discovered, and resolved to possess. 
Being aware that the driver's presence was an impedi- 
ment to the theft, he hit upon the following plan to get 
rid of him : 

Approaching the driver, who was busy currying his 
mules, he accosted him with — " I say, old fellow, what 
are you doing there?" 

"Can't you see?" replied John, gruffly. 

" Certainly," responded wag, "but that is not your 
business. It is after tattoo, and there is a fellow hired 



GENEEAL nelson's MULE TEAMSTER. 195 

here, by the General, who curries all the rallies and 
horses brought in after tattoo." 

The mule driver bit at once, and desired to know 
where the hair- dresser kept himself. Whereupon he 
was directed to General Nelson's tent, with the assur- 
ance that there was Avhere the fellow "hung outr 

"You can't mistake the man," said wag; "he is a 
large fellow, and puts on a thundering sight of airs for 
a man in his business. He will probably refuse to do 
it, and tell you to go to the devil ; but don't mind that, 
he has been drinking to-day. Make him come out 
surer 

Jehu posted off, and entering the tent where our Na- 
poleon of the 4th Division sat in deep reverie, probably 
considering the most expeditious method of expelling 
the Eebel Buckner, from his native State, slapped him 
on the back with force sufficient to annihilate a man of 
of ordinary size. Sj^ringing to his feet, the General 
accosted his uninvited guest with — " Well, sir, who are 
you, and what the devil do you want?" 

"Old boss, I've got a job for you now; six mules to 
be curried, and right off, too," said the Captain of mules, 
nothing daunted at the flashing eye of the General. 

"Do you know whom you are addressing, sir?" asked 
the indignant commander. 

" Yes," said John, elevating his voice to a pitch which 
rendered the words audible a square of; "you are the 
fellow hired by Uncle Sam to clean mules, and I won't 
have any foolishness. Clean them mules and I'll give 
you a drink of busthead." 

" You infernal villain 1" exclaimed the General, now 
perfectly furious, " I am General Nelson, commander of 
this Division !" 



196 A COSTLY MISTAKE. 

Jolin placed the thumb of liis right hand against his 
nose, and extending his fingers, waved them slowly, in 
a manner supposed by some to be indicative of great 
wisdom. The Greneral's sword leaped from its scabbard, 
and John from the tent just in time to save his head. 

Our boys drank the "big mule driver's health" in the 
Bourbon, the story soon got out, and became the popu- 
lar joke of the season. 



STOEY LX. 



A COSTLY MISTAKE. 1863. 

Among the civilian prisoners captured at Eogerville^ 
East Tennessee, was a gentleman from Connersville, 
Indiana, who had been visiting Eichmond on army 
business. He seemed to be impressed with the belief 
that the Eebels regarded it as an offence worthy of 
death, to hail from a Northern city, and that when he 
fell into their hands, the hour of his dissolution drew 
nigh. 

During Saturday night, while we were all quietly 
banking in a corn-field, guarded by Confederate ca- 
valry, the unsophisticated hoosier determined to rid 
himself of all the "evidence of his guilt," which he had 
in his possession. The night was very dark and cloudy. 
Indiana drew out his pocket-book, and after fumbling 
over it for some time, took therefrom what he thought 
was a pass from Governor Morton, authorizing him to 
leave his native State. 

lie had now, as he thought, got hold of the instru- 



A TALK WITH A REBEL AT FORT DONELDSON. 197 

ment destined to betray liim even unto death. He 
resolved to annihilate it^ and placing it in his month, 
set his vengefnl teeth to work to rednce it to a state of 
undecipherable pnlp. This done, with one masterly- 
exhalation, he sent the "quid" over a neighboring 
fence, and with an easy conscience slept till morning. 

During Sunday he had occasion to look over his pri- 
vate papers, and soon found, to his dismay, that Gover- 
nor Morton's pass was still in his possession, but that a 
bank draft for three hundred dollars was missing ! He 
had masticated . the "wrong document, much to his own 
pecuniary loss. 



STORY LXI. 



A TALK WITH A REBEL AT FORT DONELDSON. 

When I got back to my command, I found one of 
our lieutenants had Colonel Hanson, of the Kentucky 2d, 
in custody. He was a rough-looking customer, dressed 
in citizen's dress, short, muscular, and blear-ejed — he 
looked to me as a fit person to command a band of 
pirates. He said he wanted somebody to tell him where 
to march his men, that he was tired of waiting. 

He acted and talked like one having a "heap" of 
authority, and not much like a prisoner. Finding no 
one to give him, immediately, the information he de- 
sired, he became sociable. 

"Well," said he, "you were too hefty for us." 

" Yes, but you were protected by these splendid de- 
fences." 

" Your troops fought like tigers." 



198 A TALK AYITH A REBEL AT FOKT DON'ELSO^T. 

" Do you think now one Southern man can whip five 
Northern men?" 

"Not Western men/' he replied, doggedly. "Your 
troops are better than Yankee troops — fight harder — 
endure more. The devil and all hell can't stand before 
such fellows. But we drove you back." 

"Why didn't you keep us back?" 

" You had too many reinforcements." 

" But we had no more troops engaged in the fight 
than you had." 

" Well, you whipt us, but you haven't conquered us. 
You can never conquer the South." 

" We don't wish to conquer the South ; but will re- 
store the stars and stripes to Tennessee, if we have to 
hang ten thousand such dare-devils as you are." 

" Never mind, sir, you will never get up to Nashville." 

" Then Nashville will surrender before we start." 

" Well, well, the old United States flag is played out 
— ^we intend to have a right Government down here." 

"What am I to imderstand by a right Government?" 

"A Government based on property, and not a damned 
mechanic in it." 

" Do these poor fellows, who have been fighting for 
you, understand that they have no voice in the ' right 
Government'' that you seek to establish?^'' 

"They don't care. They have no property to pro- 
tect." 

Fling the striped bunting out ! 

Never, never let it drag ! 
Rally, rally freemen stout, 

Underneath the starry flag ! 



COLONEL straight's CAVALRY RAID. 199 



STORY LXII. 



COLONEL STRAIGHT'S CAVALRY RAID INTO GEORGIA, IN 
APRIL, 18G3. . 

Colonel A. D. Straight, of tlie 51st Indiana Volun- 
teers, in command of a brigade of about 1,700 men, for 
special service, left Murfreesboro', on the 7tli or Sth of 
April, 1863, to receive an outfit at Nashville. 

At Nasliville, instead of horses, they received, in part, 
about nine hundred worn-out Government mules and a 
few young, unbroken ones. Thus imperfectly outfitted, 
they embarked on the 10th of April, on transport steam- 
ers, and proceeded do\^Ti the Cumberland to Palmyra, 
from whence they marched over land to Fort Donelson. 

This march tested the bottom of the animals, proving 
them deficient in all respects. The expectation had 
been, that the men would be able to secure a better 
mounting by capturing horses on their route ; but the 
guerillas, having preceded them, left but small opportu- 
nity for that operation. 

From Fort Donelson they marched to Fort Henry, 
where the troops re-embarked for Eastport, on the Ten- 
nessee River, about 190 miles above Fort Henry, where 
they left the boats and started to join General Dodge's 
forces, at Bear Creek, Alabama. The day after reach- 
ing Dodge's command, they advanced to Tuscumbia, the 
Rebels leaving after slight skirmishing, Colonel Straight's 
brigade bringing up Dodge's rear. After a stay of a 
day and a half with the General, for some more broken- 
down mules, Colonel Straight's brigade left Tuscumbia, 
at midnight, for Russellville, which was reached in six 



200 coLON"EL straight's cavalry raid. 

hours ; the main body proceeding on to Mount Hope, 
to capture some horses, ascertained to be near there. 

But the owners of the horses, apprised of their 
approach, conveyed the animals to the mountains, 
where they were securely secreted from our scouts. 
The next day the whole brigade left Mount Hope for 
Moulton, and, during their march, heard heavy cannon- 
ading^ in the direction of Town Creek, which was after- 
ward ascertained was from Dodge's forces advancing on 
that place, it being his purpose to engage the enemy, 
and divert their attention from Colonel Straight, and 
prevent their pursuing him, till he could advance into 
the heart of their country, beyond their reach ; but 
heavy rains and the swollen state of Town Creek pre- 
vented the General from crossing it. 

Colonel Straight's command reached Moulton at dusk, 
and left at midnight for the Cumberland Mountains ; 
his whole force not yet being mounted, one hundred 
men having to march on foot, greatly impeded his pro- 
gress. 

While crossing the mountains, contrahand informa- 
tion enabled them to capture a sufficient number of 
horses and mules to mount those of the men who were 
yet on foot. 

Having been about two days in the mountains, just 
as the troops had taken up their line of march, early in 
the morning, they were attacked by General Forrest, 
who had overtaken them, with 2,200 men and two 
pieces of artillery. 

They, however, went on about three miles, to Day's 
Gap, where they dismounted, formed in line of battle, 
and, after a sharp conflict of about two hours, repulsed 
the rebels, capturing their artillery and a few prisoners. 



COLONEL straight's CAVIlRY RAID. 201 

Colonel Straight piirsned them but a short distance, as 
being so much better mounted, they soon distanced him. 
Having buried the dead and cared for the wounded, 
Colonel Straight resumed his line of march south, and 
having advanced about twelve miles, was again over- 
taken by Forrest, who had been strongly reinforced by 
a brigade of well-mounted infantry, with a battery of 
six pieces, under the command of Colonel Eoddy. 

The attack was immediately renewed, in hopes of 
overwhelming Colonel Straight's command with their 
superior numbers ; but, to their mortification, they were 
repulsed two or three times, in a contest of three hours' 
duration, with heavy loss. 

In this engagement Colonel Straight made use of the 
guns he had captured in the morning, as long as possi- 
ble, but subsequently spiked them and left them on the 
field, having no suitable ammunition for them, and no 
spare horses for their removal. 

This fight lasted till after clask, when Forrest not 
renewing the attack, Colonel Straight resumed his line 
of march, being within eighty miles of the Georgia line. 
While on the field, after the fight, the narrator of the 
particulars thus far stated (H. K. King, Ass't Surgeon, 
61st Penn'a Vols.) was taken prisoner, while looking 
after the wounded, in company with Brig.-Surg. Wm. 
L. Peck, who barely escaped a similar fate. 

Mr. King was taken before Forrest, who inqu.ired of 
him, " what General commands your forces ?" — to which 
Mr. King replied, " he is not a General, but a Colonel — • 
Colonel Straight." Forrest seemed surprised at this, and 
remarked that the Colonel was " as brave a man as he 
ever had to contend against !" — that " he understood his 
business well, showing excellent generalship in the posi- 



202 

tions lie selected ; and tliat lie was surprised at Colonel 
Straight's holding out so long as lie did, against supe- 
rior odds." 

At Huntsville, Mr. King heard General Forrest 
remark to some citizens, that he never could have 
taken Colonel Straight's command, had his men been 
well mounted. Mr. King also learned that the force 
pursuing Colonel Straight was 4,000 men, with a 
battery. 

After Mr. King was captured, he informs us that he 
knew nothing more of the proceedings of Colonel 
Straight's brigade, until he met him and his of&cers in 
Libby Prison, in Eichmond, Ya. The following is given 
by Mr. King, as a brief statement given him by Colonel 
Straight's officers : — 

*' After the last battle, above alluded to, Colonel 
Straight again started, marching toward Eome, Ga., and 
Forrest, as I was told, having telegraphed General 
Bragg to send a brigade on to Eome, followed him, 
and overtook him at Bluntsville, where another fight 
ensued, Forrest being again repulsed. 

^' Skirmishes now occurred every day, until out troops 
were within a few miles of Eome, when another fight 
took place, at Cedar Blufi^ where Colonel Straight 
fouG:ht Forrest until all his available ammunition was 
exhausted — some of it having been wet in the hold of 
the boat, while on the river — and the mules were com- 
pletely worn out, so that they would not move, either 
by coaxing or beating. 

"Colonel Straight was therefore compelled to sur- 
render, which he did, on condition that the of&cers 
should retain their side-arms, and be paroled, and ex- 
changed immediately. Nevertheless, as soon as he and 



A HEROIC INCIDENT. 203 

his officers liad been removed from General Forrest's 
command, their side-arms were taken from them. 

"Previous to his surrender, Colonel Straii2:ht sent 
three hundred of his men (the only ones in his com- 
mand who were mounted on horses) to destroy some 
bridges and alarge rolling-mill, all valued at about 
two millions of dollars, which they accomplished. 

"The officers in Colonel Straight's command," con- 
tinues Mr. King, "justify him in all that he did, express 
themselves well pleased with his management of the 
troops, say that he acted as bravely and as nobly as a 
man could act, and are extremely desirous to continue 
under his command." 

Had it not been for the rise in Town Creek, which 
prevented General Dodge from crossing, and engaging 
the enem}^, as originally planned, Colonel Straight would 
have been able to have succeeded in his expedition ; and 
would, notwithstanding, had his men been well mounted, 
as was admitted by Forrest, himself. Our entire loss in 
all the engagements, was seven killed and fifty-eight 
wounded. The rebel loss was one hundred killed and 
four hundred wounded, which Mr. King says he ascer- 
tained while within their lines. 



STORY LXIII. 



A HEROIC INCIDENT. 



A YOUNG man in our employ, says the Mansfield 
(Ohio) Herald, in April, 1863, received a letter recently, 
announcino^ the death of a former school fellow, named 



204 A HEKOIC INCIDENT. 

Austm Macy, of Montgomery County, Oliio, by tlie 
Rebels in Kentucky. The letter gives the following 
details of tbe courageous manner in wliicb. he met his 
fate, and Ave doubt if the annals of the war, so prolific 
of heroism, can parallel young Macy's audacious gal- 
lantry. 

Macy belonged to an Ohio regiment, stationed at 
Camp Dick Robinson, Kentucky, and was sent out with 
a detachment on a scouting expedition. After a time 
he became separated from his party, and soon discov- 
ered a party of Secesh, who did not notice him. Con- 
cealing himself, he fired on and succeeded in killing 
seven of them, before they saw where he was hidden. 

There being no further chance, Macy attempted to 
escape, but unfortunately, his horse threw him, severely 
injuring and disabling him. He was thereupon easily 
captu.red by the Rebels, who deliberately shot him 
seven times, wounding and mangling him in a most 
dreadful manner, but not killing him. He was still 
able to raise up and shoot his eighth man ! An end 
was then put to this gallant hero by bayonetting him, 
and his mang^led remains Avere then thrown into a mud- 
hole. He was in his twenty-second year. 

The above particulars were obtained from a Union 
woman, who witnessed a part of the affair, w^hich 
occurred on her farm. She plead unsuccessfully Avith 
the leader of the Rebel party, for the privilege of bury- 
ing Mr, Macy's corpse. He had not the humanity to 
grant her request. 

When once a man descends to be a wicked heartless Rebel, 
His remnant of humanity is scarcely worth a pebble : 
From lesser to outrageous crimes — the length and breadth of evil, 
And heighth and depth of infamy, his progress shames the devil. 



A SAD AND REMARKABLE INCIDENT. 205 



STOEY LXIY. 



A SAD AND REMARKABLE INCIDENT. 

In the second jenT of tlie war, a private in tlie 19tb 
Indiana regiment was tried by a court-martial for de- 
serting his post, and found guilty, the punishment for 
Avhich is death. His execution was deferred for some 
time, and he was kept in a painful state of suspense. 
At last the day was fixed for his execution, and five 
regiments were drawn up in line to witness it, while a 
file of twelve men were in advance to execute the sen- 
tence of death by shooting him. 

The prisoner was led forward blindfolded, and the 
usual words of preparation and command were given, 
in a low, measured tone, by the officer in command. 
During the interval between the commands — "Take 
aim," and "Fire," and before the last was given, a 
horseman rode rapidly up the road, waving in the air 
a paper, which Avas understood by all to be a reprieve. 
Covered with dust and perspiration, the horseman rode 
hurriedly up to the officer in command, and delivered 
to him what really proved to be a reprieve. 

The shout " reprieve" fell upon the poor soldier's ear. 
Avhich was already strained to the utmost, in anticipa- 
tion of hearing the last, and final word that was to 
usher his soul into the presence of his Creator — it was 
too much for him, and he fell back upon his coffin, 
apparently dead. The bandage was removed from his 
eyes, but reason had taken its flight, and he became a 
hopeless maniac. He was discharged from the army, 
and sent home to his friends. 



206 DARING EXPLOIT. 

His death liacl really never been intended, but it was 
necessary for tbe good order and discipline of tlie army, 
to make an impression upon not only himself, but the 
whole brigade ; for which purpose the forms of the 
execution were regularly gone through with in its 
presence, and the reprieve arrived in good time, as 
intended. 

It was sought by this means to solemnly impress 
upon the minds of the soldiers, the necessity of a strict 
observance of duty and oBedience, under the penalty of 
an ignominious death. It was a fearful ordeal for the 
deserter, and it is questionable whether to him the com- 
pletion of the tragedy would not have been better than 
the actual result. 



STORY LXY. 



DARING EXPLOIT, 

One of the most daring and successful exploits of 
the war, was performed by four men, on Saturday 
night, May 1st, 1863, on Rock creek, in Wayne county, 
Kentucky. Benjamin Burk, a citizen ; Hudson Burk, a 
discharged soldier ; James Burk, of Wolford's cavalry, 
and a citizen named James Davis, having received inti- 
mation of a band of twenty -eight men, under command 
of Captain Evans, of the famous band of Rebel robbers, 
that infested Wayne and Clinton counties, known as 
Champ Ferguson's men, having stopped at the house 
of Jonathan Burk to spend the night, determined to 
attempt their capture. 



DAEING EXPLOIT. 207 

Four men against twentj-eiglit fiends, -who had 
reveled in tlie blood of innocent neighbors, for a year — 
think of it ! It seemed like madness, yet the attempt 
was made. Coming to a sentinel, who stood guard 
oyer their thirty-one horses, Dayis ordered him to sur- 
render his gun, which the coward did, and receiyed in 
return a blow from it that knocked his brains out. The 
way was now clear to the house, where the remainder 
of the party were asleep. Surrounding the dwelling, 
they at once raised a hideous yell, crying, " "Wolford ! 
Wolford!" at the top of their yoices. 

The Eebels awakened by the noise, supposed that 
Wolford's cayalry, whom they dreaded as they did 
death, was upon them, sprang from their beds, leaving 
their clothes and guns behind, and rushed for the doors. 

Out they rushed with nothing on but their shirts and 
drawers, some without the latter even, to take leg-bail. 
Hudson Burk met Captain Evans at the door; both 
fired at the same time. Burk was slightly wounded in 
the head, but the infamous Evans was instantly killed. 
Four others were slain, and the remainder of the party 
escaped. 

They abandoned every thing; all their horses, per- 
sonal property, guns, and several thousand dollars in 
greenbacks, in addition to a considerable amount of 
Confederate money. Nothing remained for the victo- 
rious few to do, but to gather up the fruits of their 
victory, which they divided with William Milligan, a 
prisoner, whom they had released from the clutches of 
the marau.ders. 



208 ROMANCE OF THE WAR. — A HEROINE. 



STORY LXVL 



ROMANCE OF THE WAR.— A HEROINE, 

The following narrative appeared in tlie Louisville 
Journal early in May, 1868 : 

A few weeks since, a captain, accompanied by a young 
soldier apparently about seventeen years of age, arrived 
in this city in charge of some Rebel prisoners. 

During their stay in the city, the young soldier 
alluded to had occasion to visit headquarters, and at 
once attracted the attention of Colonel Mundy as being 
exceedingly sprightly, and possessed of more than 
ordinary intelligence. Being in need of such a young 
man at Barracks No. 1, the colonel detailed him for 
service in that institution. 

A few days subsequently, however, the startling secret 
was disclosed, that the supposed young man was a young 
lady, and the fact Avas established beyond dou.bt by a 
soldier who Avas raised in the same town with her, and 
kneAV her "parents." She "acknowledged the corn," 
and begged to be retained in the position to which she 
had been assigned; having been in the service ten 
months, she desired to serve during the war. Her wish 
was accordingly granted, and she is still at her post. 

On learning the facts above stated, we took occasion 
to visit the barracks, and was introduced to "Frank- 
Martin," (her assumed name) and gleaned the following 
incidents connected with her extraordinary career dur- 
ing the past ten months. 

Frank was born near Bristol, Pa., and her parents 
reside in Alleghany city, where she was raised. They 



EOMANCE OF THE WAR. — A HEROINE. 209 

are higlilj respectable people, and in good circumstances. 
Slie was sent to tlie convent in Wheeling, Ya., at twelve 
years of age, where she remained until the breaking out 
of the war, having acquired a superior education, and 
all the accomplishments of modern usage. 

She visited home after leaving the convent, and after 
taking leave of her parents, proceeded to this city in 
July last, (1862, with the design of enlisting in the 2d 
East Tennessee Cavalry, which she accomplished, and 
accompanied the army of the Cumberland to Nashville. 
She was in the thickest of the fight at Murfreesboro, 
and was severely wounded in the shoulder, but fought 
gallantly, and waded Stone river into Murfreesboro, on 
the memorable Sunday on which our forces were driven 
back. She had her wound dressed, and here her sex 
was disclosed, and General Eosecrans made acquainted 
with the fact. 

She was accordingly mustered out of the service, 
notwithstanding her earnest entreaty to be allowed to 
serve the cause she loved so well. The general was 
very favorably impressed with her daring braver}^, and 
superintended the arrangements for her safe transmis- 
sion to her parents. She left the army of the Cumber- 
land resolved to enlist again in the first regiment she met. 
When she arrived at Bowling Green she found the 8th 
Michigan there and enlisted ; since which time she has 
been and is now connected with it. 

She is represented as an excellent horseman, and has 
been honored with the position of regimental bugler to 
the regiment. She has seen and endured all the pri- 
vations and hardships incident to the life of the soldier, 
and gained an enviable reputation as a scout, having 

14 



210 SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 

made several wonderful expeditions, wliicli were attended 
with signal success. 

Frank is only eighteen years of age, quite small, and 
a beautiful figure. She has auburn hair, which she 
Avears quite short, and large blue eyes, beaming with 
intelligence. Her complexion is naturally very fair, 
though slightly bronzed at present from exposure. 
She is exceedingly pretty and very amiable. Her con- 
versation denotes more than ordinary accomplishment, 
and what is stranger than all, she appears very refined 
in her manners, giving no evidence whatever of the 
rudeness which might naturally be expected from her 
late associations. 

Frank informs us that she has discovered a great 
many females in the army, and is now intimately ac- 
quainted with a young lady who is a lieutenant in the 
army. She has assisted in burying three female soldiers 
at different times, whose sex was unknown to any but 
herself. 



STORY LXVII 



SIEGE OF VICKSBURG— ADVENTURES OF A REBEL DIS- 
PATCH BEARER. 

The Mobile Register published the following in- 
teresting letter, from the "father of Lamar Fontain," 
(a pious old Rebel.) 

Lamar is almost continually in the saddle, and em- 
ployed in very hazardous enterprises. His last feat of 
arms was the most daring he has yet performed. 

He left my house May 24th, 1863. under orders from 



SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 211 

General Johnston to bear a verbal dispatch, to Genera] 
Pemberton, in Yicksburg, and to c^rry a supply of per- 
cussion caps to our troops in that besieged city. I 
parted with him, hardly hoping ever to see him again ; 
for I knew that Vicksburg was closely invested on all 
sides. The enemy's lines of circumvallation extend 
from Snj^der's Bluff, on the Yazoo, to Warrenton, on 
the Mississippi, and the rivers, and their opposite shores, 
are filled and lined with their forces. 

He was well mounted, and was burdened with forty 
pounds of percussion caps, beside his blanket and 
crutches. He has no use of his broken leg, and cannot 
walk a step without a crutch; and in mounting his 
horse, he has to lift it over the saddle with his ris^ht 
hand. But he accomplishes this object with much dex- 
terity, and without assistance. I loaned him a very 
fine saber, with a wooden scabbard, to prevent rattling, 
and a very reliable revolver, which has never missed 
fire, when loaded by me. 

The family lyere called together for prayers, and we 
prayed fervently, that the God of our fathers would 
shield him from all danger, and enable him to fulfil his 
mission to Vicksburg successfully, and give him a safe 
return. I then exhorted him to remember, that if it 
was the will of God for him to live, and serve his 
country, all the Yankees owned by Lincoln could not 
kill him ; but if it was the Divine will that he should 
die, he would be in as much dano^er at home as in 
Vicksburg, and death would certainly find him, no 
matter where he might be. 

I charged him to use his best endeavors to kill every 
one of the jackalls who should attempt to stop his 
course, or to come within reach of his sword or pistol. 



212 SIEGE OF VICKSBURa. 

He crossed Big Black Eiver that night, and the next 
day got between thfeir lines and the division of their 
army, which was at Mechanicsbnrg. He hid his horse 
in a ravine, and ensconced himself in a fallen tree, over- 
looking the road, during the day. From his hiding 
place, he witnessed the retreat of the Yankees, who 
passed him in considerable haste and confusion. 

After their columns had gone by, and the night had 
made it safe for him to move, he continued his route in 
the direction of Snyder's Bluff*. As he entered the 
telegraphic road from Yazoo City to Yicksburg, he was 
hailed by a picket, but dashed by him. A volley was 
fired at him by the Yankees. He escaped unhurt, but 
a Minnie ball wounded his horse mortally. 

The spirited animal, however, carried him safely to 
the bank of the Yazoo Eiver, where he died, and left 
his rider afoot. He lost one of his crutches in making 
his escape, it being jerked from him by the limb of a 
tree, and he had no time to pick it up. 

With the assistance of one crutch, he carried his 
baggage, and groped along the Yazoo, until he pro- 
videntially discovered a small log canoe, tied by a rope, 
within his reach. He pressed this into his service, and 
paddled down the river until he met three Yankee gun- 
boats coming up to Yazoo City. 

He avoided them by running under some willows 
overhanging the water, and lying concealed until they 
passed. Soon afterward he floated past Snyder's Bluff, 
which was illuminated, and alive with Yankees and 
negroes, participating in the amusement of a grand ball 
of mixed races. 

He lay flat in his canoe, and could hardly be dis- 
tinguished from a piece of drift-wood — and he glided 



STEGE OF VICKSBUEG. 213 

safely througli tlie gunboats and barges of the amalga- 
mationists. He reached tlie backwater of the Missis- 
sippi before day, and in the darkness missed the outlet 
of the Yazoo, and got into what is called "Old Eiver." 

After searching in vain for a pass into the Missis- 
sippi, day dawned, and he discovered his mistake. He 
was forced to conceal his boat and himself, and lie by 
for another day. He had been tivo days and nights 
without food, and began to suffer the pangs of hunger. 

At night he paddled back into the Yazoo, and de- 
scended it to the Mississippi, passing forty or fifty of 
the Yankee transports. Only one man hailed him, from 
the stern of a steamboat, and asked him where he was 
going. He replied that he was going to his fishing 
lines. 

In the bend, above Yicksburg, he floated by the 
mortar fleet, lying flat in his canoe. The mortars were 
in full blast, bombarding the city. The next morning 
he tied a white handkerchief to his paddle, raised him- 
self up, in the midst of our picket-boats at Yicksburg, 
and gave a loud huzza for Jeff Davis, and the Southern 
Confederacy, amid the vivas of our sailors, who gave 
him a joyful reception, and assisted him to General 
Pemberton's headquarters. 

After resting a day and a night in the city, he started 
out with a dispatch from General Pemberton to General 
Johnston. He embarked in his same canoe, and soon 
reached the enemy's fleet below the city. He avoided 
their picket-boats on both shores, and floated near their 
gunboats. He passed so near one of these, that through 
an open port-hole he could see men playing cards and 
hear them converse. 

At Diamond Place he landed, and bade adieu to his 



214 ^ SIEGE OF VICKSBUEG. 

faithful " dugout." After hobbling through the bottom 
to the hills, he reached the residence of a man Avho had 
been robbed bj the savages of all his mules and horses, 
except an old, worthless gelding, and a half-broken colt. 
He gave him the choice of them, and he mounted the 
colt, but found that he traveled badlj. 

Providentially he came upon a very fine horse in the 
bottom, tied by a blind-bridle, without a saddle. As a 
basket and old bag were lying near him, he inferred 
that a negro had left him there, and that a Yankee 
camp was not far distant. He exchanged bridles, and 
saddled the horse, and mounted him, after turning loose 
the colt. 

After riding so as to avoid the supposed position of 
the Yankees, he encountered one of them, who was re- 
turning from a successful plundering expedition. He 
was loaded with chickens, and a bucket of honey. He 
commenced catechising Lamar, in true Yankee style, 
who concluded it best to satisfy his curiosity, by send- 
ing him where he could know all that the devil could 
teach him. 

With a pistol bullet through his forehead, Lamar left 
him, with his honey and poultry lying in the path, to 
excite the conjectures of his fellow-thieves. 

He approached with caution the next settlement, 
where he hired a guide, for fifty dollars, to pilot him to 
Hankerson's Ferry, on Big Black Eiver, which he 
wished to reach near that point, without following any 
road. The fellow he hired proved to be a traitor. 

When he got near the ferry, Lamar sent him ahead 
to ascertain whether any Yankees were in the vicinity. 
The conversation and manners of the man had excited 
his suspicions, and as soon as he left him he concealed 



SIEGE OF VICKSBUEG. 215 

himself, but remained where lie could watch his return. 
The man was gone much longer than Lamar expected ; 
but returned, and reported that the way was open, and 
that no Yankees were near the ferry. 

After paying him, Lamar took the precaution to 
avoid the ferry, and to approach the river above it, in- 
stead of following the guide's directions. By this he 
flanked a force of the Yankees posted to intercept him ; 
bu.t as he entered the road near the river bank, one of 
them, who seemed to be on the right flank of a long 
line of sentinels, suddenly rose up within ten feet of 
him, and ordered him to halt. 

He replied with a pistol shot, which killed the sentinel 
dead, and, w^heeling his horse, galloped through the 
bottom up the river ; but the Yankees sent a shower of 
balls after him, two of which wounded his right hand, 
injuring four of his fingers. One grazed his right leg, 
cutting two holes through his pantaloons, and another 
cut through one side of my sword scabbard, spoiling its 
beauty, but leaving a mark, which makes me prize it 
more highly. 

Seven bullets struck the horse, which reeled under 
him, but had strength and speed enough to bear him a 
mile from his pursuers, before he fell and died. Lamar 
then divided his clothes and arms into two packages, 
and swam Big Black River safely. 

He did not walk far before a patriotic lady supplied 
him with the only horse she had — a stray one, which 
came to her house after the Yankees had carried off* all 
the animals belonging to the place. On this he reached 
Raymond, at two o'clock in the morning, changed his 
horse for a fresh one, carried his dispatch to Jackson 
that morning, and rejoiced us all by an imexpected 
visit the same day. 



216 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBQIIG. 



STOEY LXYIIL 



THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 

On the 13tli of June, 1863, General Lee attacked and 
captured Winchester, its armament, and part of the 
garrison. He then crossed the Potomac, near Wil- 
liamsport, and directed his march upon Harrisbnrg 
General Hooker followed on his right flank, covering 
Washington and Baltimore. 

On reaching Frederick, Maryland, on the 28th of 
June, General Hooker was, at his own request, relieved 
from the command, and Major-General Meade appointed 
in his place. The army of the Potomac was at this 
time mainly concentrated at Prederick. 

On the 29th General Meade put his army in motion, 
and at night was in position, its left at Emmittsburg 
and right at New Windsor. The advance of Buford's 
cavalry was at Gettysburg, and Kilpatrick's Division 
at Hanover, where it encountered Stuart's cavalry, 
which had passed around the rear and right of our 
army, without meeting serious opposition. 

On the 30th, the 1st, 3d, and 11th Corps were con- 
centrated at Emmittsburg, under General Eeynolds, 
w^hile the right wing moved up to Manchester. Buford 
reported the enemy in force on the Cashtown road, near 
Gettysburg, and Eeynolds moved up to that place on 
the 1st of July. He found our cavalry warmly engaged 
with the enemy, and holding him in check on the Cash- 
to wa road. Eeynolds immediately deployed the ad- 
vanced Division of the 1st Corps, and ordered the 11th 
Corps to advance promptly to its support. 



THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 217 

Wadsworth's Division had driven tlie enemy back 
some distance and captured a large number of prison- 
ers, when General Eeynolds fell mortally wounded. 

The arrival of Ewell's Corps, about this time, by the 
York and "Harrisburg road, compelled General Howard, 
upon whom the command devolved, to withdraw his 
force, the 1st and 11th Corps to the Cemetery Eidge, 
on the south side of Gettysburg. 

About seven, P. M., Generals Sickles and Slocum 
came on the field with the 3d and 12th Corps, which 
took position, one on the left and the other on the right 
of the new line. The battle, for the day, however, was 
over. 

General Meade arrived on the field duringc the nio^ht 
with the reserves, and posted his troops in line of battle, 
the 1st Corps on the right, the 11th Corps next, then the 
12th Corps, which crossed the Baltimore pike, the 2d 
and 3d Corps on the Cemetery Eidge, on the left of 
the 11th Corps. 

The 5th Corps, pending the arrival of the 6th, formed 
the reserve. On the arrival of the latter at two o'clock, 
P. M., it took the place of the 5th, which was ordered 
to take position on the extreme left. 

The enemy massed his troops on an exterior ridge, 
about a mile and a half in front of that occupied by us. 

General Sickles, misinterpreting his orders, instead 

of placing the 3d Corps on the prolongation of the 2d, 

had moved it nearly three-fourths of a mile in advance ; 

an error which nearly proved fatal in the battle. The 

enemy attacked this Corps and the 2d with great fury, 

and it was likely to be utterly annihilated, when the 5th 

Corps moved up on the left, and enabled it to reform, 

behind the line it was originally ordered to hold. ' 
T 



218 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 

The 6tb. Corps and part of the 1st, were also oppor- 
tunely thrown into this gap, and succeeded in checking 
the enemy's advance. About sunset the Eebels retired 
in confusion and disorder. About eight, P. M., an 
assault was made from the left of the town, which was 
gallantly repelled by the 1st, 2d and 11th Corps. 

On the morning of the 3d we regained, after a spirited 
contest, a part of our line, the right of which had been 
yielded to sustain other points on the 2d. About one, 
P. M., the enemy opened an artillery fire of 125 guns 
on our centre and left. This was followed by an assault 
of a heavy infantry column on our left and left centre. 
This was successfully repulsed with terrible loss to the 
enemy. 

This terminated the battle, and the Eebels retired, 
defeated, from the field. The opposing forces in this 
sanguinary conflict were nearly equal in numbers, and 
both fought with the most desperate courage. The 
commanders were also brave, skillful, and experienced, 
and both handled their troops on the field with dis- 
tinguished ability; but to General Meade belongs the 
honor of a well-earned victory in one of the greatest 
and best fought battles of the war. 

The victory, however, like others gained by the army 
of the Potomac, under other commanders, was not fol- 
lowed up with the promptness requisite for the realiza- 
tion of the greatest results, and on the morning of the 
14th of July, it was found that Lee, i^ith his army, had 
crossed to the south side of the Potomac. His rear 
guard, however, was attacked by our cavalry, and suf- 
fered considerable loss. 

Our loss in this short campaign was very severe, viz. : 
2,834: killed, 13,709 wounded, and 6,643 missing, in all 



MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE. 219 

23,186. We captured 3 guns, 41 standards, 13,621 
prisoners, 28,178 small arms. 

The entire loss of tlie enemy is unknown; but judg- 
ing from the numbers of bis dead and wounded left on 
tbe field, it must have been much greater than ours. 



MAJOR-GENERAL GEO. G. MEADE. 

The Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Poto- 
mac, Major-General George G. Meade, was born in Spain, 
in 1816, during the temporary sojourn of his parents in 
that country. His father was a Pennsylvanian. He 
entered the Military Academy at West Point, from the 
District of Columbia, in September, 1831, graduated 
July 1st, 1835, and was appointed Second Lieutenant 
in the 3d Artillery; but resigned on the 26th of October, 
1836. May 19th, 1842, he was appointed Second Lieu- 
tenant of the Topographical Engineers. 

In the Mexican war he distinguished himself at the 
battle of Palo Alto ; was brevetted a First Lieutenant 
for gallant conduct at Monterey, and in August, 1851, 
attained the full rank of First Lieutenant; and was 
appointed Captain, May 19th, 1856 ; and on the 31st of 
Ausrust, 1862, Bria:adier- General of Volunteers. 

Being assigned to the command of a brigade in Gene- 
ral McCairs division, he accompanied it to the Peninsula, 
where he distinguished himself in the battles of Beaver 
Dam, Gaines' Mills, and Nelson's Farm. In the latter, 
he was wounded by a fragment of a shell, which passed 
throus^h his rig^ht side. 

He was thought to be mortally wounded, and on the 
day of the battle of Malvern Hill he was placed on a 
steamer to be sent north to his family. His wound 



220 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE. 

proved less serious than had been supposed, and he 
recovered in time to command a division in the battles 
of South Mountain and Antietam, where he again dis- 
tinguished himself. 

He was also in the battle of Fredericksburg, and at 
Chancellorville he commanded the 5th Corps. 

When General Hooker was wounded at Antietam, 
General McClellan placed General Meade in command 
of the Corps which had just been deprived of its heroic 
leader. During the action. General Meade received a 
slight contusion from a spent grape-shot, and had two 
horses killed under him. He distinguished himself 
greatly, during the battle, by deeds of daring and valor. 

On the 28th of June, 186^, Major-General Hooker, at 
his own request, was relieved of the command of the 
Army of the Potomac; and General Meade being ap- 
pointed to succeed him, assumed the command of that 
army, which was then principally concentrated at Frede- 
rick, Md. This was just previous to the sanguinary battle 
of Gettysburg, the particulars of Avhich are given in 
Story LXVIIL, to which the reader is referred. 

In army circles. General Meade has the reputation of 
being an able, cool-headed, energetic officer ; and what 
is equally to the purpose, his whole heart is in the 
cause of the Union. 

He is a fine-looking man, of nearly six feet stature, 
with vigorous constitution, and correct habits. His 
soldiers always admired him, and relied confidently 
upon his nerve and skill, in action. 

At the critical period of his assuming the command 
of the Army of the Potomac, he was so perfectly 
acquainted witb it, as to be able to put it in motion, 
with the least possible delay, and achieved a most 
glorious result. 



BARBARA FRIETCHIE. 221 



STORY LXIX. 



BARBARA FRIETCHIE. 

Up from the meadow rich with corn, 
Clear in the cool September morn, 
The clustered spires of Frederick stand, 
Green-walled by the hills of Maryland. 

Eoimd about them orchards sweep, 
Apple and peach trees fruited deep ; 
Fair as a garden of the Lord, 
To the eyes of the famished rebel horde. 
On that pleasant morn of the early Fall, 
When Lee marched over the mountain-wall- 
Over the mountains winding down. 
Horse and foot into Frederick town, 
Forty flags with their silver stars, 
Forty flags with their crimson bars, 
Flapped in the morning wind : the sun 
Of noon looked down and saw not one. 
Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then, 
Bowed with her fourscore years and ten ; 
Bravest of all in Frederick town. 
She took up the flag the men hauled down : 
In her attic-window the stafi" she set. 
To show that one heart was loyal yet ; 
Up the street came the Eebel tread, 
Stonewall Jackson riding ahead. 
Under his slouched hat left and right, 
He glanced : the old flag met his sight. 
" Halt !" the dust-brown ranks stood fast. 
'' Fire !" out blazed the rifle blast, 
It shivered the window, pane and sash, 
It rent the banner with seam and gash ; 
Quick as it fell from the broken staff, 
Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf. 



222 BARBARA FRTETCHIE. 

She leanefl fai' out on the window sill, 
And shook it forth with a royal will : 
" Shoot, if you must, the old gray head, 
But spare your country's flag," she said. 

A shade of sadness, a blush of shame, 
Over the face of the leader came ; 
The nobler nature within him stirred 
To life at that woman's deed and word : 

*' Who touches a hair of yon gray head 
Dies like a dog ! march on !" he said. 
All day long, through Frederick street 
Sounded the tread of marching feet : 

All day long that free flag tossed 
Over the heads of the Kebel host ; 
Ever its torn folds rose and fell 
On the loyal minds that loved it well. 

And through the hill-gaps sunset light 
Shone over it with a warm good-night : 
Barbara Frietchie's work is o'er. 
And the Eebel rides on his raids no more. 

Honor to her ! and let a tear 
Fall for her sake on Stonewall's bier ; 
Over Barbara Frietchie's grave, 
Flag of freedom and union wave ! 

Peace and order and beauty draw 
Round thy symbol of light and law ; 
And ever the stars above look down 
On thy stars below in Frederick town ! 

John G. Whittier. 



Then fling out our flag most high to-day, 
Triumphant 'mid the clang of war ; 

And death to him who shall betray 
One single stripe or star." 



COL. L. WILLIAMS AND LIEUT. W. G. PETERS. 223 



STOEY LXX. 



CAPTURE, TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF COLONEL LAWRENCE 
WILLIAMS AND LIEUTENANT WALTER G. PETERS, OF THE 
REBEL ARMY. 

Franklin, Tenn., June 9tli, 1863. 
When the history of this most bloody war is fully 
written, few, if any incidents will be of more thrilling 
interest than the capture, trial, and execution of Colonel 
Williams and Lieutenant Peters. We had been be- 
sieged for four or five days by General Forrest, our 
communications with Nashville cut off', and most of the 
time fighting, and were almost hourly looking for a 
general assault upon our feeble garrison. Colonel 
Baird, of the 85th Indiana, had made the best possible 
disposition of our forces, and all were resolved to sell 
Franklin as dearly as possible. 

But on the night of the 8th of June, the dull monotony 
of dodging shells was relieved, and excitement Avas 
carried to the highest pitch, as two fine-looking officers, 
dressed in what appeared the Federal uniform, and 
mounted on splendid horses, rode up to Colonel J. P. 
Baird's headquarters and introduced themselves as Col- 
onel Anton and Major Dunlap, of the United States 
regular army. 

They stated that they had, a few days before, been 
ordered by the War Department to report to General 
Eosecrans for duty as special inspectors of the army 
of the Cumberland : that they had entered upon their 
new field of duty the day before, fully _ equipped and 
accompanied by two orderlies. 



224 CAPTURE, TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF 

They showed proper papers from Adjutant General 
Thomas, and General Garfield, chief of Rosecrans' staff, 
and stated that after leaving Mnrfreesboro thej took 
the direction of Eaglesville ; and when near that place 
they stopped for dinner, and while at dinner they were 
surprised by a party of about twenty Eebel scouts, who 
captured their orderlies, and were so near capturing 
them as to make it necessary to leave their coats and 
other baggage; that they were unfortunately out of 
funds, and wished the loan of fifty dollars of Colonel 
Baird, that they might go to Nashville to refit them- 
selves before going further on duty. 

Colonel Baird, although very suspicious that all was 
not right, felt compelled to recognize them, with such 
perfect papers from so high a source. He gave them the 
fifty dollars and a pass to Nashville, upon receiving 
which, the two started off at full speed in the direction 
of Nashville. 

But they had scarcely disappeared in the dark, when 
Colonel Watkins, of the 6th Kentucky Cavalry, and 
Colonel Baird both felt such intense anxiety lest they 
might be imposed upon, that it was instantly resolved 
to pursue and arrest the two gents, and hold them until 
they could learn from General Rosecrans the truth of 
their statements. 

As no time was to be lost, the gallant Colonel Wat- 
kins, accompanied by a single orderly, started in pur- 
suit, and dashing forward toward our pickets, luckily 
came in sight of the gentlemen. The colonel hailed 
them and ordered them back to Colonel Baird's head- 
quarters. Undoubtedly the first impulse of these daring 
spies was to resist, which they could have done desper- 
ately, as they were both well armed ; but the cool cour- 



COL. L. WILLIAMS AND LIEUT. W. G. PETERS. 225 

age of Colonel Watkins induced tliem to return. 
Colonel Williams afterwards stated, that lie put his 
hand on his pistol to shoot Colonel Watkins, but the 
hope of not being detected as a spy, caused him to 
desist. 

After their arrival at headquarters, Colonels Baird 
and Watkins questioned them very closely, but could 
get no clue to anything that would raise a reasonable 
suspicion, until General Eosencrans telegraph that he 
had no such of&cers in his department. 

The prisoners were then informed that they were 
suspected, and were under arrest imtil they could pro- 
perly explain themselves. They showed correct maps 
of our lines, and seemed well acquainted with all the 
of&cers of the regular army. 

Their persons were then searched, and the first thing 
upon examining the sword of the Colonel Anton, re- 
vealed, the fatal marks, C. S. A ; the die was cast and 
the blood rushed to the cheeks of the almost petrified 
prisoners. They acknowledged that they were trapped, 
and at once confessed their real names, rank and position. 

The colonel acknowledged himself to be Colonel 
Lawrence Williams of the 2d Eegular Cavalry, at the 
breaking out of the AYar, and was recognized by Col- 
onel- Watkins as a fellow soldier of that regiment: he 
had entered the confederate service, and was now chief 
of artillery on General Bragg's staff. That he entered 
upon this most hazardous enterprise, fully aware of his 
fate if detected ; but refused to disclose the nature of his 
business. 

The younger man said he was Lieutenant Walter G. 
Peters, of General Wheeler's stafi", and showed some 

15 



226 CAPTUKE, TEIAL AND EXECUTION OF 

excitement; but Colonel "Williams was perfectly cool 
after tlie first moment of detection. 

Colonel Baird now telegraphed the facts to General 
EosecranS; and received the laconic reply, to try the 
prisoners by court-martial, and if found guilty, hang 
them at once, to prevent all possibility of Forrest's 
profiting ' by their information. Now came the severe 
struggle ; the prisoners had confessed their guilt, but 
to hang two such men, of their rank, was a terrible 
task, but Colonel Baird was equal to the emergency, 
and knowing the exigencies of the service, proceeded 
promptly to obey General Eosecrans order. 

A court-martial was called by Colonel Baird to sit 
at once : the charges and specifications were duly pre- 
sented, and the court thus sitting, at the dead hour of 
night, after carefully and patiently hearing the confes- 
sions and other evidence, performed the sad and painful 
duty of finding the prisoners guilty of being spies, and 
Colonel Baird, under General Eosecrans' order, approved 
the finding, and sentenced Colonel Williams and Lieu- 
tenant Peters to be hung by the neck until dead ! 

At four o'clock on the morning of the 9th of June, 
Colonel Baird informed the prisoners of their awful 
fate, and could not refrain from shedding tears as he 
announced it to them. Colonel Williams received his 
sentence with the most perfect coolness; but begged 
that as his father had fallen in our country's service at 
Monterey, in the Mexican war, that he might be shot, 
and asked mercy for Lieutenant Peters; but under 
Eosecrans' imperative order no clemency could be 
shown. 

After the sentence of the prisoners was announced, 
they began to prepare to meet their fate. They made 



COL. L. WILLIAMS AND LIEUT. W. G. PETERS. 227 

their wills, and wrote letters to tlieir friends full of tlie 
deepest affection and tenderness. A chaplain was 
called, and the prisoners partook of the sacrament, and 
joined in prayer Avith great fervency. They did not 
attempt to sleep, but spent the whole time in either 
writing or conversing. 

At the request of Colonel Williams, Colonel Watkins 
took charge of his effects, which consisted of eleven 
hundred and seventy-five dollars in Confederate money, 
a fine watch, and some private papers. Lieutenant Peters 
had very few effects about his person, the only one of 
importance being a gold locket, containing a likeness of 
his Avife, with a fine gold chain attached. He requested 
it to be buried with him, which was faithfully done. 

At nine o'clock in the morning. Captain Alexander, 
who had taken charge of the execution, reported the 
scaffold and gallows ready. The infantry and cavalry 
were formed in hollow square about the place of execu- 
tion : at half-past nine the prisoners were brought for- 
ward by the guard. They marched with firm tread, 
and mounting the scaffold, took an affectionate leave ot 
each other, when the halters were placed about their 
necks, and they were launched into eternity. 

Thus two of&cers, who were born and bred gentle- 
men, one a regular army ofl&cer of the United States 
service, who had been educated and given position by 
our Government, expiated their crimes of treason 
against the Government they were taught to love and 
respect, and were bound in. honor and duty to defend. 

Protected by the forged papers they had in their pos- 
session, had they succeeded in getting the countersign, 
on the night of their visit to Colonel Baird's camp, 
they could have marched a brigade of Eebels into our 



228 GATHERING BUTTERNUTS IN TENNESSEE. 

forts, and captured our whole command without resist- 
ance ; or if true, as tliey stated, thej had inspected our 
whole front, they could have given Bragg such informa- 
tion as might have led to the most appalling disasters to 
Eosecrans' whole command. — A. B. V., Oor. Cin. Com. 

Our happy Government fain would tliey subvert, 
They sought its ruin and they felt its hurt. 



STORY LXXI. 



gathering butternuts in TENNESSEE. 

On Tuesday, the 3d of March, 1863, General Steadman 
ordered Colonel Bishop, of the 3d Minnesota, to take his 
regiment, a section of the 4th Regular Battery, under 
Lieutenant Stephenson, and 600 of Johnson's 1st East 
Tennessee Cavalry, and proceed forthwith to Harpeth 
River. Anticipating a fight, I went with the detach- 
ment. 

As we passed through Nolinsville and Triune, the 
few Butternut inhabitants gazed, with apparent envy, at 
our well-clad soldiers. About nine o'clock at night we 
reached the river ; where the infantry bivouacked for 
the night : the artillery planted their pieces in eligible 
positions; while the cavalry crossed the river, and 
commenced the search for Rebel gentry, who were sup- 
posed to be on short leave of absence to their homes. 
Quite a number of citizen soldiers were thus picked up. 

Major Tracy, of the cavalry, then proceeded with a 
dozen men to the residence of General Starnes, and sur- 
rounded it, hoping to find the General at home : but the 
bird had flown the day previous. The Major, however, 



COLONEL BENJAMIN" H. GRIEESON'S RAID. 229 

being a searching man, and fall of inquiry, looked under 
the beds^ and in tlie closets, tlien asked who was up 
stairs? "No one," Avas the reply, "but my brother, 
and he has never been in the army." 

Major Tracy took a candle, went up, saw the young 
man, and asked him where the man had gone to who 
had been in the bed with him. The young man pro- 
tested no one had been there, and Mrs. Starnes pledged 
her word, on the '^ honor of a Southern lachj!^ that there 
was no one else in the house. But the Major turned 
down the sheets, and being a discerning man, discovered 
the imprint of another person having been in the bed : 
and from the distance they had lain apart, he felt sure it 
was not a woman. 

So, telling Mrs. Starnes he hadn't much faith in the 
honor of a Southern woman, under such circumstances, 
he though he would take a peep through a dormant- 
window that projected from the roof, and there, sure 
enough, sat Major Starnes, a son of the Eebel General, 
in his shirt-tail, breeches and boots in hand, afraid to 
stir. It was a bitter cold night, and the poor fellow 
shook like an aspen leaf. He presented at once, a pitia- 
ble, yet ludicrous aspect. After taking him, and col- 
lecting some twenty or thirty horses, they returned to 
their headquarters, on this side of the river. — [Alf. 
Burnett.] 



STOKY LXXII 



colonel benjamin H. GRIEESON'S RAID. 

In pursuance of a plan for the destruction of all lines 
of communication between the Eebel Army of the "West, 



230 COLONEL BENJAMIN H. GRIEESON'S RAID. 

and that of General Bragg, in Middle Tennessee, Colonel 
Grierson, by order of General Grant, moved his forces, 
consisting of the 6th Illinois Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Loomis ; 7th Illinois Cavalry, Colonel Edward Prince, 
and the 2d Iowa Cavalry, Colonel Edward Hatch, from 
Lagrange, Tennessee, out on the Kipley road, and 
bivouacked for the night, on the plantation of Mr. 
Davis, five miles northwest of Eipley. This was on 
the 15th of April, 1863. 

On the morning of the 18th of April, the command 
proceeded to Eipley. From thence, the 2d Iowa, march- 
ing on the left flank of the column, took a southeast 
course, crossing the Tallahatchie five miles northeast of 
New Albany. The main body proceeded due south, 
crossing the river two miles east of that point. Simul- 
taneously, a battalion of the 7th Illinois, commanded 
by Major Graham, marched on the right flank of the 
column, and crossed at New Albany. 

The Eebel General Chandler, then stationed with a 
body of troops at Senatobia, a few miles from New 
Albany, had his pickets on both sides of the river, to 
prevent our crossing. With these, all portions of Grier- 
son's command had skirmishing, at times, till they were 
driven in. They attempted to fire the bridge at New 
Albany, but were prevented. 

The 6th and 7th Iowa encamped about four miles 
south of New Albany ; the 2d Iowa four miles east of 
the same place. Near midnight, this regiment was 
attacked by a considerable force of the enemy, which 
was promptly repulsed. 

On the morning of the 19th. several movements were 
made by detachments, for the purpose of inducing the 
enemy, who were encamped in some force at King's 



COLONEL BENJAMIN H. GEIERSON'S RAID. 231 

Bridge, nnder Major Chalmers, to believe our object to 
be to break up tbe different military organizations in 
that part of the country. The ruse succeeded, and the 
enemy were left in ignorance of the course taken by 
our forces. 

Colonel Grierson, with the main force, at 9 o'clock, 
A. M., marched in a southerly direction; Colonel 
Hatch marching on the left flank, as before. The dif- 
ferent detachments sent out, soon after joined the centre 
column, when the whole force proceeded to Pontotoc, 
where the advance encountered a small Eebel force, a 
portion of Captain Weatherill's command ; which, after 
the exchange of a few shots, fled, and was pursued 
through the town by our cavalry. Their entire camp 
equipage was captured, and 400 bushels of salt, all of 
which was destroyed. 

Colonel Grierson continued his march six miles south 
of Pontotoc, and encamped at eight o'clock, P. M., on 
the road leading to Houston. 

Reveille was sounded on the morning of the 20th, at 
two o'clock ; and at three o'clock. Major Tull, 2d Iowa, 
with about 175 of the best effective portion of the com- 
mand, with one piece of flying artillery, and all pri- 
soners and captured property, proceeded northerly, on 
Ms return to Lagrange, by order of Colonel Grierson, 
for the double purpose of relieving the command of all 
incumbrance, and inducing the enemy to believe he 
had retraced his steps; which the return of Major Tull 
would indicate. Major Tulb sent a scout west, to cut 
the telegraph wires near Oxford. It should have been 
added, that a large Rebel mail was captured and de- 
stroyed at Pontotoc, several guerrillas killed and 
wounded, and a few captured. 



232 COLONEL BENJAMIN H. GRIERSON'S RAID. 

After Major Tull's command liad left. Colonel Grier- 
son resumed his raarcli southward, passed through 
Houston, and encamped about ten miles beyond. 

About five o'clock, A. M., Colonel Hatch was ordered 
to take his command up the Columbus road, and de- 
stroy as much as possible of the Mobile and Ohio Rail- 
road, attack Columbus, if the opposing force there was 
not too strong, and return to Lagrange, using his own 
discretion as to the route. In all of which, it was sub- 
sequently ascertained, he was entirely successful. 

By this movement, the Rebel General Chalmers, who 
was on the lookout for Grierson, was com43letely de- 
ceived ; and thus the main body of our cavalry got two 
or three days' start. The remaining forces (6th and 7th 
Illinois Cavalry) continued their march to Starkville, 
where another mail was captured and destroyed. 

Four miles from Starkville, at Dismal Swamp, a halt 
was ordered, and half the command left the rest, and 
continued on southward about five miles, and after 
swimming bayous and wading through almost impas- 
sable swamps, reached one of the principal tanneries in 
the country; which was fired and entirely destroyed, 
together with a large stock of boots and shoes, saddles, 
bridles, &c., and several thousand dollars' worth of 
clothing. 

This must have been a severe blow to the Rebel 
army, as every article was immediately needed, and had 
been packed for delivery with dispatch. 

The command reunited on the 22d, and marched to 
within one mile of Louisville, Mississippi, a distance of 
twenty-seven miles, over an unpleasant route ; the men, 
in many cases, having to swim their horses over 
streams, and lead them through blind marshes, many 



COLONEL BENJAMIN H. GRIEESON'S RAID. 233 

of the animals getting so deep in mire as rendered it 
impossible to extricate them, and tliej were left to 
perish. Frequently both horse and rider would go 
down together, the horse drowning, and the man barely 
escaping with his life. 

Continuing on, with great perseverance, overcoming 
all obstacles, they crossed Pearl Eiver Bridge on the 
next morning, driving away the Eebels, who were too 
late in their attempt to burn it, and arriving at Phila- 
delphia, destroyed the mail, (as they did at every town 
they passed,) without doing any other damage. About 
two o'clock, P. M., on the 23d, the command took the 
road to Decatur, thence to Newton, on the Southern 
Eailroad; and arrived at the latter place about day- 
light the next morning. Two trains of cars were there 
captured — one of twenty-five, and the other of thirteen — ■ 
loaded mth all kinds of commissary stores and warlike 
munitions ; which, with the cars and locomotives, were 
destroyed. 

Proceeding on, our troops fired the bridge about a 
mile east of Newton, and three heavy trestle-work 
bridges, further up the road, in the same direction ; 
thus occupying themselves till reaching Nichol's plan- 
tation, seven miles west of War-trace, on the 25th. 
Here their course was changed to a more southerly one. 

On reaching Raleigh, a halt was ordered for the night. 
Here a single scout was detailed to cut the telegraph 
wire on the Southern Railroad,, between Lake Station 
and Jackson. Arriving within seven miles of the rail- 
road, he came upon a regiment of Rebel cavalry, which 
had come from Brandon in search of Colonel Grierson's 
forces. The scout was closely questioned, and though 
the enemy was on the direct road to our own camp, but 



234: COLONEL BENJAMIN H. GEIEESON'S EAID. 

fourteen miles distant, he succeeded in misleading them, 
and returned with word of their approach. 

Colonel Grierson, on learning that they were so near 
him, moved his command over Leaf Eiver Bridge, 
which he destroyed, thus preventing the possibility of 
surprise in the rear. Proceeding to Westville, and 
crossing Pearl river, about ten miles from there, by 
ferrying the men and swimming the horses, the two 
battalions in advance, under Colonel Prince, made a 
rapid march to the railroad at Hazlehurst Station ; 
where our men captured and destroyed forty cars, 
four of which were loaded with shell and ammunition, 
the rest with quartermaste-r and commissary stores 
Another train escaped by leaving five minutes before 
the arrival of our troops. 

Captain Forbes, Company B, 7th Illinois, was de- 
tached south of Starkville, with orders to proceed to 
Macon. Making a bold march to within a short dis- 
tance of that place, he found the bridge had been de- 
stroyed, and the place was occupied by a considerable 
force of Rebels. He then moved to Newton, and from 
thence to Enterprise, nearly one hundred miles east of 
the main body of our forces. 

On reaching Enterprise, Captain Forbes sent a flag 
of truce to Colonel Goodwin, commanding the Rebel 
forces there, demanding the surrender of the town. 
The Rebel Colonel requested an hour to reply, and 
Captain Forbes finding the Rebel force stronger than he 
had supposed, and having accomplished his object of 
diverting their attention — before the expiration of the 
hour, was on a rapid gallop to join Colonel Grierson, 
then more than a day's march in advance. Taking a 
westward course, he soon struck the route taken by the 



COLONEL BENJAMIN H. GRIEESON's RAIB. 235 

main force at Pearl Eiver, wMcli tie soon joined by 
rapid marclies. 

Near Gallatin, our cavalry suddenly came upon a 
team hauling a 3 2 -pounder, Parrott gun, destined for 
Port Gibson, which was captured and spiked. 

About five miles east of Gallatin, Colonel Grierson 
detached a battalion to march immediately to the New 
Orleans, Jackson, and Great Northern Kailroads at New 
Haven. They succeeded in destroying the railroad for 
some distance, burning several cars, water-tanks, and a 
considerable amount of other property, and cutting the 
telegraph wires, a very damaging work to Eebel 
interests. 

The advance moved on Brook Haven, at daylight, on 
the 28th, so suddenly, as to surprise and capture two 
hundred Eebel prisoners. Some of them were found 
asleep in their quarters. A large number of muskets, 
packed ready for transportation, also, five hundred 
tents, at a camp of instruction, were destroyed. 

The main body of our men, after leaving Gallatin, 
encountered Garland's cavalry, killing and capturing 
several, and routing the rest. Making a feint toward 
Port Gibson, and another toward Nashville, to deceive 
the enemy, they proceeded to Brook Haven, already 
occupied by our advance. 

On the 30th ult. Colonel Grierson moved his force 
along the railroad, in a southerly direction, destroying 
all the bridge^ between Brook Haven and Bogue Chito 
Station. At the latter place fifteen freight cars were found 
standing on the track, partly loaded with army stores, 
which, with the depot, and railroad bridge were fired. 

He then marched rapidly on to Summit, where 
twenty-eight more freight cars were destroyed. He 



236 COLONEL BENJAMIN H. 

then left tlie line of the railroad, for a point between 
Magnolia and Liberty, intending to reach the Clinton 
road. Information was received ^ that a regiment of 
Eebel cavalry was moving towards Wassita. They 
were found at Wall's bridge, in Tickfaw. 

Our cavalry immediately rushed in among them, 
killing eight or ten, and wounding many more, and 
completely routing the balance. Our loss was one 
killed and five wounded. Colonel Blackburne, of the 
7th Illinois, who had been conspicuous for his bravery, 
during the entire raid, was among the latter. 

He received a wound in the thigh, and slight ones in 
the head and breast. It was believed he would recover, 
but it was thought best to leave him at a house by the 
road side, where a surgeon and one man remained with 
him. 

After dispersing the Rebels, our forces proceeded 
East a short way, when they changed their course, and 
went directly South. At Edwards' Bridge they found 
another cavalry regiment posted there to dispute their 
passage. 

One battalion was sent to engage the enemy, while 
the main body went in the direction of Greensburg. 
At Edwards' Bridge the enemy could not be induced 
to fight, except in shirmishes, in which they lost several 
in killed and wounded, while not one of our men was 
hurt. 

Thus far the appearance of our forces was a complete 
surprise to the Rebels wherever found. But at Oscia 
a deliberate plan had been laid for the capture of Grier- 
son's command. 

Hitherto the Rebels had evidently thought it was the 
intention of our forces to return to Lagrange, and had 



COLONEL BENJAMIN H. GEIERSON's EAID. 237 

made every effort to intercept them on sucli return. 
But tliey had at last become convinced of Colonel 
Grierson's purpose to pursue his hazarous raid entirely 
through their country, and resolved, if possible, to stop 
his further advance. 

In proceeding further South, he must needs cross 
several bridges, hence a regiment of cavalry was so 
posted as to flank Colonel Grierson's men, while a regi- 
ment of infantry was placed in his front to hold him in 
check until their cavalry could attack him in front and 
rear. 

Seeing his danger. Colonel Grierson at once ordered a 
charge on the infantry, and dashing through their lines, 
in a few minutes left them far in the rear, without the 
loss of a man on his part; and* so proceeded on to 
Greensburg, and thence to Clinton, crossing the Amite 
ten miles above. 

On Big Sandy Creek a guerrilla Camp was attacked 
and 150 tents, camp equipage, and baggage destroyed, 
and several horses captured. Taking the Greensville 
Spring road, our forces then marched directly toward 
Baton Eouge. 

About ten miles from the latter place they suddenly 
came upon Stewart's cavalry, who, after a short fight, 
retreated to the river, were surrounded and captured. 

On Friday, May 1st, a courier arrived at Baton Eouge 
with the startling announcement, that a brigade of cav- 
alry, from General Grant's army, having cut their way 
through the heart of the Eebel country, were within five 
miles of the city. 

This information seemed at first almost incredible; 
but at four o'clock all doubt was removed, by Colonel 
Grierson and his heroes being escorted into the city by 



238 COLONEL BENJAMIX H. GRIEESON'S RAID. 

by Captain Godfrey's cavalry. At the picket lines tliey 
were met by Colonel Dudley and staff, wlio extended to 
them a hearty welcome. Spontaneously, as it were, the 
air rans; Avith three cheers, loud enousrh to echo alongr 
the hills to Port Hudson. 

The importance of this expedition can hardly be re- 
alized, without reflection on what it accomplished. In 
seventeen days the troops marched over eight hundred 
miles, fighting wherever they met opposition; killing 
and wounding many of the enemy; capturing more 
than one thousand men, and over twelve hundred 
horses; and, destroying more than four millions of 
dollars worth of property, and completely cutting off 
all communication with the strongholds of the enemy 
on two important railroads. 

As an instance of the activity and perseverance of 
Colonel Grierson's command, it is stated that while in 
pursuit of a Eebel cavalry force, they traveled, thirty 
hours, seventy-five miles, fought four battles, skir- 
mished considerably, forded a river, and all the time 
neither men nor horses had any thing to eat. 

On the evening of the 6th of May, the Union citizens 
of ISTew Orleans gave to Colonels Grierson and Prince 
a magnificent reception at the St. Charles Hotel ; com- 
plimenting Colonel Grierson, by presenting him with a 
splendid war-horse, and Colonel Prince, by presenting 
him with a superb military saddle and bridle. Long 
before the appointed hour, the rotunda was filled to its 
utmost capacity. The speeches usual on such occasions 
were made ; Colonel Grierson giving all the credit of 
his success to the brave men and oflScers under his 
command. 



SKETCH OF COL. BENJAMIN H. GRIEESON'S. 239 

SKETCH OF COL. BENJAMIN H. GRIERSON. 

Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson is a native of 
Pennsylvania — was born -in Pittsbnrg in Jnly, 1827. 
Consequently^ lie is (July, 1864,) thirty- seven years of 
age. At a very early age he was removed to Trumbull 
county, Ohio, in which State he resided nearly fifteen 
years, and then removed to Jacksonville, Illinois, where 
he resided when the great Rebellion broke out. 

He was in the produce business, and, to use his own 
words, " was also a musician, being able to play on any 
instrument, from a jewsharp to a hand- org an." 

Shortly after hostilities commenced, he left for Cairo 
to join a company that had been raised in his town; but 
on arriving there he was called to the position of Aid to 
General Prentiss. 

When the 6th Illinois Cavalry was organized, he was 
elected Major of that regiment, but remained on de- 
tached service as Aid to General Prentiss, with whom 
he served with distinction. 

On the 28th of March, 1862, when Colonel Cava- 
haugh resigned. Major Grierson was unanimously 
elected by the o£B.cers to fill his place, and in Decem- 
ber, 1862, he was ordered to command the 1st Brigade 
of Cavalry, consisting of the 6th and 7th Illinois, and 
2d Iowa Regiments. 

Colonel Grierson, with his command, had been en- 
gaged in all the cavalry skirmishes and raids of West 
Tennessee and Northern Mississippi, up to his memor- 
able advent into Baton Rouge. In him were happily 
united to a good physical organization, sagacity and 
prudence, courage, tact, and indomitable energy, the 
natural precedents of glorious success. 



240 INCIDENTS OF COL. GRIEKSON'S RAID. 

mCIDENTS OF COL. GKIERSON'S RAID. 

Although, in many instances, our troops passed them- 
selves off for the rebel Van Dorn's, or Jackson's, cavalry, 
yet, whenever recognized by the country people, they 
were treated in the most respectful manner ; and, on 
several occasions, the strongest demonstrations of Union 
feeling were voluntarily made. 

Our men were frequently cheered, and invited to 
share hospitalities, in the name of the old flag — all 
showing that it is only necessary to once more establish 
the authority of the Government, to bring back to its 
allegiance the noble old State of Mississippi. 

In many instances the inhabitants, along the different 
routes taken by our cavalry, when they found we were 
not as we had been described — namely, robbers and 
assassins, insulters of women and children, and every- 
thing else, base, and contemptible — bade us God speed, 
and acknowledged that they had been bitterly deceived. 
In every instance, private property was respected, unless 
found in the hands of guerrillas. 

While several of our scouts were feeding their horses, • 
at the stables of a wealthy planter of secession procli- 
vities, the proprietor looking on, apparently deeply inte- 
rested in the proceeding, suddenly exclaimed, "Well, 
boys, I can't say I have anything against you. I don't 
know but on the whole, I rather like you. You have 
not taken anything of mine, except a little corn for your 
horses, and that you are welcome to. I have heard of 
you all over the country. You are doing the boldest 
thing ever done. But you'll be trapped, though ; you'll 
be trapped, mark me." 

At another place, where our men thought it advisable 
to represent themselves as Jackson's cavalry, a whole 



INCIDENTS OF COL. GEIERSON's RAID. 2^1 

company was graciously entertained, by a strong seces- 
sion lady, who insisted upon whipping a negro, because 
he did not brins; the hoe-cakes fast enouo;h. 

On one occasion seven of Colonel Grierson's scouts 
stopped at the house of a wealthy planter, to feed their 
jaded horses. Upon ascertaining that he had been doing 
a little guerrilla business, upon his own account, our 
men encouraged him in the belief, that as they were the 
invincible Van Dorn cavalry, they would soon catch the 
Yankees. The secession gentleman heartily approved 
of what he supposed to be their intentions, and enjoined 
upon them the necessity of making as rapid marches as 
possible. 

As our men had discovered two splendid carriage- 
horses in the planter's stable, they thought, under the 
circumstances, they would be justified in making an 
exchange, which they accordingly proceeded to do. 

As they Avere taking the saddles from their own tired 
steeds, and placing them on the backs of the wealthy 
guerrilla's horses, the proprietor discovered them, and 
at once objected. He was met with the reply, that as 
he was anxious that the Yankees should be speedily 
overtaken, those after them should have good horses. 
" All right, gentleman,." said the planter, " I will keep 
your animals until you return. I suppose you'll be 
back in two or three days, at the furthest. AYhen you 
return, you'll find they have been well cared for." 

Our soldiers were sometimes asked where they got 
their blue coats. They always replied, when traveling 
under the name of Yan Dorn's cavalry, that they took 
them from the Yankees, at Holly Springs. This always 
excited great laughter among the secessionists. Our 
scouts, however, usually wore the regular secesh uni- 
forms. „ 16 



242 A MULE chaeCtE ox rebel cavalry. 



STOEY LXXIII. 



A MULE CHARGE ON REBEL CAVALRY. 

Ox Thursday, April — , 1863, Lieutenant Gushing, 
of the United States Gunboat Commodore Barney, made 
a gallant reconnoissance, with seventy-five seamen, and 
a boat howitzer, from the Nansemond up to Chucka- 
tuck village, about three miles distant from his vessel. 

It appears that on the morning of that day, a citizen 
showed himself on the banks of the river, bearing a 
a white flag, when Acting Master Harris, of the Gun- 
boat Stepping Stone, sent a boat to see what he wanted 
Upon the boat nearing the shore, it was treacherously 
fired into, and one man killed and others wounded. 

Lieutenant Cushmg organized his expedition to 
punish this treachery. His officers were Acting En- 
sign Hunter; Master's Mate Birtwisle, in charge of 
howiter, and Master's Mates Boardman and Aspinwall, 
in charge of seamen, acting as infantry; Lieu.tenant 
Gushing in command. 

On reaching shore, the gallant young Lieutenant con- 
fiscated two mule-carts, one for a limber for his howitzer 
and the other for an ammunition wagon. Proceeding 
on, he drove in three different vidette parties of cav- 
alry, and when he reached Ghuckatuck, which contains 
one long street, he found quite a large body of the 
Nansemond cavalry drawn up, and preparing to charge 
on him. 

Quickly unlimbering his howitzer, he threw in a 
charge of shrapnel, and gave the enemy its benefit, as 
they sounded the charge. The discharge of the howitzer 



LIEUT-COL. PHILLIPS' RAID IN MISSISSIPPI. 243 

frightened the mules in the carts, and they dashed up 
the street at full speed upon the advancing cavalry, the 
sailors in the carts cheering and yelling and firing as 
they went. 

This novel charge threw the cavalry into disorder, 
and Lieutenant Gushing immediately rushed on with 
the rest of his force, killing three of the Eebels, and 
securing their horses, arms, and equipments, only losing 
one man on his side. 

He destroyed a quantity of forage, meat, &c., and then 
retreated in order to his boats, the enemy being rein- 
forced, and showing a disposition to cut him oif. In his 
return, a sailor found one of the captured horses rather 
unmanageable, under nautical rule, and inclined not to 
mind the tiller-ropes or steerage-gear, as the, jolly tar 
called the reins. Finding that the animal was de- 
termined to carry him back to the Rebel side, he 
brought him to an anchor, by drawing one of the 
holster pistols, and shooting him through the head. 
He then rejoined his companions, very well satisfied at 
having got clear of sucb a lubberly craft. The expedi- 
tion was planned with great daring and successfully 
carried out. 



STORY LXIV. 



LIEUTENTANT-COLONEL PHILLIPS' RAID IN MISSISSIPPL 

About the 9th of August, 1863, General Hurlbut, 
having ascertained that there was a large amount of 
railroad stock at Grenada, which the Rebels were en- 
deavoring to get off south, by making temporary repairs 



244 MAJOR- GENEEAL JOSEPH HOOKER. 

to the railroad, with his usual energy and promptness^ 
arranged an expedition to destroy it. 

He sent a request to General Grant to make a diver- 
sion from the south to aid the enterprise. The expedi- 
tion started from Lagrange, Tennessee, on the 13th of 
August, under command of Lieutenant- Colonel Phillips, 
of the 9th Illinois Mounted Infantry, and reached Gren- 
ada, on the Mississippi Central Eailroad, on the 17th. 

After driving General Skinner, with two thousand 
men, and three pieces of artillery, from the place, they 
destroyed fifty-seven locomotives, upward of four hun- 
dred cars, depot buildings, machine shops, blacksmitli 
shops, and a large quantity of ordnance and commis- 
sary stores, beside capturing about fifty railroad men, 
and a number of other prisoners. 

After Colonel Phillips had thoroughly accomplished 
his work, Colonel Winslow, from Grant's army, arrived 
with a force from below. Colonel Phillips's expedition 
returned in safety to Lagrange, on the 23d of August. 

Lieutenant- Colonel Phillips and his gallant command 
were certainly entitled to much commendation, for 
patiently enduring the hardships of such a march, 
through Central Mississippi, in the middle of August, 
and so thoroughly crippling the remaining energy of 
the Kebellion in the Southwest. 



MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER. 

Joseph Hooker, of California, was twenty-ninth in 
a class of fifty members, graduating in 1837. Breveted 
for gallantry at the battles of Monterey, of the National 
Bridge, and of Chapultepec. In fighting the Rebels, his 
heroism has been too conspicuous to neod any comment. 



BILLY BEAT 



STOEY LXXY. 



245 



"BILLY BRAY." 

A spruce enrolling officer 

Of Salisbury, one day, 
On visiting a country house 

Found all tlie males away. 

So when the good old lady, 
Who answered to his call, 

Had given their names and ages, 
He asked if that was all. 

" yes," replied the lady, 
" I have no more to say. 

For sure we have none other, 
Excepting Billy Bray." 

The officer was zealous 

That no one should escape, 

Lest others should grow jealous, 
And get him in a scrape. 

*' Ay, ay," said he, " good woman, 
And where is Billy Bray ?" 

Quoth she " he's in the barrack, 
A w^orking at his hay." 

Then briskly to the barrack 

The officer he ran. 
And looked about for Billy, 

But couldn't find his man. 

Then to the house he hastened, 
And asked the worthy dame, 

And got the age of Billy Bray, 
And straight enrolled his name. 



246 SINKING OF THE GUNBOAT CINCINNATI. 

And soon the drafting time it came, 

On the appointed day ; 
When high among the lucky names 

Stood that of Billy Bray. 

But deep was the perplexity 
Which then and there befell, 

For who he was, and where he was, 
No mortal wight could tell : 

Till he who had enrolled him — 
The man in " blue and brass," 

Had looked about, and found him out, 
A snorting, live jackass ! 

And still, among those drafted ones. 
High on the list doth stand, 

The petted name of " Billy Bray," 
Of '' 0, my Maryland V 



STOEY LXXVI 



SINKING OF THE CINCINNATI (Guuboat), AT VICKSBURG. 

"On tlie 26tli of May, 1863, it was determined to 
make an attack upon the rebel batteries to the north of 
Vicksburg, and opposite General Steele's column. The 
gunboat Cincinnati, Lieutenant Bache, was to co-operate 
and attempt to silence the water-batteries, previous to 
tlie assault from the land side. Accordingly, a little 
after eight, A. M., she commenced dropping down below 
Young's Point. When about two miles from Vicks- 
burg, the famous gun, ' Whistling Dick,' in position just 
north of the town, opened upon her. 

" At first the aim was too high, and the balls passed 



SINKING OF THE GUNBOAT CINCINNATI. 247 

over without doing any damage, but as the boat neared 
the batteries, it became more accurate, as the sound of the 
passing balls, growing sharper at every shot, plainly 
indicated. 

" In order to attack the upper batteries it was neces- 
sary to drop below them, and round-to, with the head 
up stream. This position was a most unfortunate one, 
as it exposed the vessel to a raking fire, from one bat- 
tery in front, and another from behind. 

" The first shot Avhich struck her, hit the iron plating, 
and did no material damage. But the captain had given 
orders to push up to within three hundred yards, and by 
the time she had reached that proximity, the shot hit 
her with fearful accuracy, generally passing directly 
through her port-holes. 

" One battery, which fired from an elevation and at 
some distance, threw plunging shot, which w^ent through 
her upper deck, and did great damage. Lieutenant Sokal- 
ski, of General Steele's staff, who had been sent to point 
out the position, to be taken in the assault, saj^s that when 
Lieutenant Bache and two others beside himself were 
standing in the pilot-house, one of these plunging balls 
entered the port-hole of the pilot-house, passed through 
the thigh of the pilot, and then sheered down through 
the floor on to the gun- deck, at the same time breaking 
the wheel, and wounding another man through the hand 
and arm, with the splinters. Lifting the hatchway and 
rushing down the gun- deck. Lieutenant Sokalski found 
it filled with mangled and dead. It was a slaughter-pen. 
Blood and fragments of bodies, shot away, were scat- 
■tered over the floor. 

" It was discovered that one ball had passed through 
the boat below the water line, and that the boat was 



248 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM T. SHERMAN. 

sinking. It was evident that to continue the fight longer 
would be to throw aAvay the lives of the crew, and orders 
were given to start up the river as fast as possible. Lieu- 
tenant Starr, who, I was told, was second in command, 
went to the pilot-hon.se and directed movements as best 
he could with a broken Avheel and sinkins; craft. In 
the meantime she was riddled by shot after shot, and 
was fast sinking. For three-quarters of an hour she 
Avas toiling, crippled, up stream ; while the enemy, seeing 
her condition, redoubled the fury of the cannonading. 
More than fifty shot struck her before she reached the 
shore. But Lieutenant Bache refused to allow the 
colors to^be lowered, and she sunk like the Cumber- 
land, with the Stars and Stripes still waving." 



MAJOE-GENEEAL AYM. T. SHEEMAN. 

William T. Sherman, of Ohio, was sixth in the West 
Point class, of 1840, which numbered 42. He was sent 
with his company to California during the Mexican war, 
via Cape Horn, reaching there after the fighting was 
over, and thus saw no battle before that of Bull's Eun, 
where he was distinguished. 

He was Superintendent of the Louisiana State Mili- 
tary Institute when the Eebellion broke out ; but emi- 
nently loyal as he was, he could not forbear to resign 
that position, and hasten to the service of his country, 
under the battle-flag of freedom. His heroism and gene- 
ralship since then, are too well known to require special 
notice. 



JOH^T moegan's eaid. 249 



STORY LXXYII. 



JOHN MORGAN'S RAID. 

The Rebel General John H. Morgan left Sparta, 
Tenn., on the 27tli of June, 1863, with detachments 
from two brigades of cavalry, numbering, according to 
Captain Cunningham, of Morgan's staff, 2,028 effective 
men, with four pieces of artillery — two Parrot's and two 
hoAvitzers, and crossed the Cumberland near Burkesville, 
on the 1st and 2d of July, in canoes and boats impro- 
vised for the occasion. 

He had some difficulty in making the horses swim, but 
finally succeeded in getting all over by ten A. M. on the 
2d. Colonel Dick Morgan then proceeded on a reconnois- 
ance in force, havins; been told that Colonel Hobson's 
cavalry were about. He was met by Colonel Jacobs, 
with the 9th Kentucky cavalry, and repulsed after a 
gallant fight, yet claiming a victory. The loss was 
small on both sides. 

Colonel Alston, Morgan's chief of staff, says that Col- 
onel Johnston, after much difficulty, succeeded in cross- 
ing the river, and joined Morgan, with the 2d brigade 
(number of men not stated,) after dark. He reported, 
having been much harassed by the enemy, but had 
succeeded in driving them back. 

Captain Cunningham says, after driving back Jacob's 
cavalry, " our column marched on through Columbia, 
at which point it found the advance of Wolford's cele- 
brated Kentucky cavaby, numbering 251 men, dis- 
persed it, killing 7 and wounding 15 men ; our loss, 2 
killed and 2 wounded." 



250 JOHN morgan's raid. 

Tlie facts in tlie case were as follows : the force he met 
at Columbia Avas a company of one hundred men, from 
the 1st Kentucky and 2d and 45tli Ohio, commanded 
by Captain Carter, of Wolford's cavalry. Headed by 
this gallant officer they met and held in check an entire 
brigade of Morgan's men, for over three hours : and not 
till their brave commander had fallen, mortally Avounded, 
and several others severely Avounded, and six of the 
others slain, and ten or twelve wounded, did they think 
of retiring from the conflict. Captain Fishback fought 
them successfully for more than hour after the fall of 
Captain Carter, AAdien, finding himself nearly surrounded, 
he AAdthdrcAA^ his command, skillfully and successfully, 
and joined his regiment at JamestoAvp. 

Colonel Wolford, then in command at JamestoAvn, 
having ascertained that Morgan's tAVO brigades passed 
through Columbia that same night, July 3d, en route 
for Lebanon, sent dispatches to General Carter, and as 
soon as possible commenced pursuit, with about 1,200 
men from the 1st Kentucky and 2d, 7th, and 45th Ohio 
regiments. Before reaching Lebanon, he was joined by 
the 2d East Tennessee, increasing his force to about 1,800 
men, Avith tAvo sections of LaAv's hoAvitzer battery. 

Arriving at the stockade at Green Eiver Bridge, on 
.the morning of the 4th of Jul}^, says Alston, " General 
Morgan sent in a flag of truce, and demanded the sur- 
render ; but Colonel Moore quietly remarked, ' if it was 
any other day he might consider the demand, but the 
4th of July Avas a bad day to talk about surrender, and 
must therefore decline.' The colonel is aQ:allant man 
^ '^ '^ and entitled to the highest credit for military 
skill. We Avould mark such a man inour army for pro- 
motion. 



JOHN" MORGAN S RAID. 251 

" The place was judiciously cliosen, and skillfully de- 
fended," continues Alston, " and tlie result was tliat we 
were repulsed witli severe loss, about 25 killed and 20 
wounded. Among the killed, as usual, were our best 
men and officers, including Colonel Chenault, Major 
Brent, Captain Trible, Lieutenants Cowan, Ferguson, 
and another whose name I do not remember." 

"Indeed," says Captain Cunningham, "this was the 
darkest day that ever shone upon our command; 11 
commissioned officers were killed, and 9 wounded. 
After heavy slaughter upon both sides, our forces with- 
drew ; loss, about 60 killed and wounded on each side." 

Colonel Moore says, officially, "My position was 
strong, and his loss Avas over 50 killed, and over 200 
wounded. I took no prisoners. My loss was 6 killed, 
23 wounded, and one prisoner. The victory was com- 
j^lete. I fought with my fraction of a regiment of 
200 men." 

On Sunday morning, July 5th, General Morgan 
appeared before Lebanon Avith a force of 4,600 men, 
and demanded its immediate surrender, tosrether with 
the troops, numbering about 325. Colonel Ilanson 
commanding, refused to surrender, and Morgan imme- 
diately commenced the attack Avith his four pieces of 
artillery. 

" After a fight of seven hours," says Alston, " General 
Morgan, finding the toAvn could not be taken in any 
other Avay, ordered a charge to be made. Colonel Han- 
son still held out, in hopes of receiving reinforcements, 
and only surrendered, after Ave had fired the buildings 
in Avliich he Avas posted. By this surrender Ave obtained 
a sufficient quantity of guns to arm all our men Avho 
were without them ; also, a quantity of ammunition, of 
which we stood sorely in need. 



252 JOHN morgan's raid. 

" At the order to charge, Duke's regiment rushed for- 
ward, and poor Tommy Morgan, Avho was always in the 
lead, fell back, almost at the first volley, pierced 
through the heart. This was a crushing blow to Gene- 
ral Morgan. Our men behaved badly here, breaking 
open stores, and plundering indiscriminately." 

Morgan's victory at Lebanon was bought at the loss 
of fifty-six killed, and one hundred and forty-eight 
wounded. Our loss was, in action, three killed and six- 
teen wounded ; after action, two men murdered, first ser- 
geant, Joseph Slaughter, and private Samuel Ferguson ; 
both killed on the way to Springfield. 

While Alston was paroling the prisoners, at Lebanon, 
lie was informed that a Federal force of two regiments 
of cavalry and a battery of artillery were approaching ; 
he thereupon ordered the prisoners to Springfield, as 
he says, " upon the double-quick," where they arrived 
after dark, in a deluge of rain. 

Alston, having been detained at Springfield, the next 
morning, two hours after the command had left, was 
himself made a prisoner, by our cavalry, on the Bards- 
town road. " My God !" says he, " how I hated it, no 
one can understand. The first thought, after my wife 
and children, was my fine mare, 'Fannie Johnson,' 
named after a pretty little cousin, of Eichmond, Yir- 
ginia. I said, 'poor Fannie, who will treat you as kindly 
as I have done?' " 

The stubborn resistance Morgan met with at Colum- 
bia, Green River Bridge, and Lebanon, had retarded his 
march, and enabled a concentration of our forces at 
Lebanon, sufficient to begin the pursuit, with confident 
hope of success, should they overtake him. " Generals 
Hobson and Shakleford joined Wolford, near Spring- 



JOHN morgan's raid. 253 

field, and Hobson being tlie senior officer, took com- 
mand of tlie whole force, increased by the 9th and 12th, 
and detachments of the 8th and 3d Kentucky cavalry, 
and one section of an Ohio batterj^, making Ilobson's 
whole force nearly 8,000 men. 

We were now twenty-four hours behind Morgan, and 
with our ammunition and ambulance train, making a 
column of three miles in length. As we looked along 
our line of jaded horses, and thought of his fresh ones, 
being gathered along his line of march, we could hardly 
be hopeful of success in the pursuit, unless General 
Judah should head him in front, or General Boyle at 
Louisville. 

We pursued, however, with great energ}^, and, until 
our provisions were exhausted, we gained upon the 
enemy. He exhausted the supplies of the people before 
us ; and hence the delay at Lebanon Junction, in order 
to get rations for a further pursuit. 

This enabled him to reach the Ohio river, at Bran- 
denburg, on the 7th of July ; where, as Cunningham 
says, " Captain Sam Taylor, (of the -old Eough and 
Eeady famil}^,) had succeeded in capturing two fine 
steamers." With these Morg^an crossed his forces over 
to the Indiana shore, not, however, without stout resist- 
ance from the Home Guards, with one piece of artillery. 

The crossing, owing in part to this opposition, occu- 
pied them from eight o'clock, A. M., of the 8th, till seven, 
A. M., of the 9th ; after this was effected, Morgan took 
the precaution to burn one of the steamers — the other 
was released. Our forces arriving soon after, found it 
necessary to send for another ; and then it took until 
daylight the next morning to get all our forces over ; 

thus giving the enemy again twenty-four hours advance. 
w 



254 JOHN moegan's raid. 

On the Oth, Morgan arrived at Corydon, wliere the 
militia, in small force, gallantly resisted his advance, 
killing and wonnding several, and detaining him for 
some three honrs. Cunningham says — " fighting near 
there 4,500 State militia, and capti^ring 3,400 of them, 
and dispersing the remainder 1" 

With this exception, Morgan met with but little 
hindrance in all his raid through Indiana and Ohio, 
till he attempted to recross the Ohio at Bufiington 
Island. This was not owing to any lack of patriotism 
among the people, but to the utter surprise and. panic 
caused by his sudden appearance along their highways. 
The militia was concentrated at the large towns and 
cities, and Morgan, informed by his scouts and sympa- 
thizers, had only to avoid those places and pursue his 
course. 

Whatever his original object and prospects may have 
been, not having met with the promised reception, his 
purpose now, probably was, to get out of the State, if 
possible, knowing that his pursuers would allow him 
but little time for ulterior exploits. 

The people, through fear, even fed and watered his 
troops, without delay; and thus enabled him to out- 
march us, upon the fresh horses stolen, from the coun- 
try for live miles on each side of his line of march. 
The country thus stripped of horses inevitably pre- 
vented us from keeping equal pace with him. 

But there never was a more enthusiastic reception of 
troops than we received, all through Indiana and Ohio ; 
hundreds, yes, thousands of people flocking with pro- 
visions to aid us in overtaking the invader; while 
thousands of beautiful young ladies and enthusiastic 
matrons and children, handed us water and bread as 



JOHN morgan's raid. 255 

we passed their doors. It was one grand clieering pro- 
cession, urging us forward and enlivening our march, 

We gathered a few horses, also, by order of the Gene- 
ral, giving receipts for them ; and some may have been 
pressed by the soldiers without leaving any ; yet, not- 
Yvdthstanding all our efforts to keep up the command, 
more than five hundred men were left on the line of 
march from the exhaustion of their horses. 

General Hobson declared his intention to overtake 
and fight the enemy with five hundred men, should all 
the rest give out upon the road. 

Canningham (although a great liar and Eebel scamp, 
occasionally told some truth,) says: "From Corydon 
we moved on without a halt, through Salisbury and 
Palmyra to Salem, at which point, telegraphing with 
our operator, we first learned the stations and numbers 
of the enemy aroused for the hunt — discovered that 
Indianapolis was running over with them — that New 
Albany contained 10,000; that 3,000 had just arrived at 
Mitchel ; and, in fact, that 25,000 men were armed and 
ready to meet the ^bloody invader.' " 

At Salem they captured 500 Home Guard, and de- 
stroyed the railroad bridge and track, sent a scou.t to 
the Ohio and Mississippi road, near Seymour, to burn 
two bridges and a depot, and destroy the track for two 
miles, which was done in an incredible short time. 

From Salem they passed on to Lexington, destroying 
in the night the depot and track at Vienna. From Lex- 
ington they passed on north to the Ohio and Mississippi 
Eailroad, near Vernon, where they "had a skirmish 
with General ^fanson's infantry force, as a feint, while 
the main force moved round the town to Dupont, where 
squads were sent out to cut the various railroads enter- 
ing at Vernon. 



256 JOHN morgan's raid. 

"Kot mucli briglitsr/' says Cunningliam, "weretlie 
bonfires and illuminations in celebration of the Yicks- 
biirg victory; by tlie Yankees, than our counter illu- 
minations around Yernon. Many old ladies were 
aroused from their slumbers to rejoice over the bril- 
liant victories recently achieved. Surmises were 
various and many. One old lady knew that the city 
of Richmond was on fire ; another, that Jeff*. Davis had 
been killed; a third, that the Army of Yirginia had 
been used up. Not one knew that General John H. 
Morgan was within two hundred miles of them." 

From Yernon they proceeded to Yersailles, where 
Cunningham says they captured 500 militia. " Captain 
P.; a Presbyterian Chaplain, imitating his commander's 
demeanor, rode boldly up to the company, and inquired 
for the captain. Being informed that there was a dis- 
pute as to who should lead them, he volunteered his 
services, was soon elected Captain, and when the ad- 
vance-guard of Morgan's men had passed, ordered them 
into the road, and surrendered them to Morgan." 

"Crestfallen, indeed, were the Yanks; but General 
Morgan treated them kindly, returning to them their 
guns, advised them to go home, and not come hunting 
such game again ; as they had every thing to lose and 
nothing to gain by it." 

From Yersailles they moved on to Harrison, Ohio, 
where they burnt a fine bridge, and passed in the night 
around Cincinnati, between that city and Hamilton, and 
at daybreak on the 14th were eighteen miles east of 
Cincinnati. Near Camp Hennison, they captured and 
burnt a train of cars. 

"From the 14th to the 19th, every hill-side contained 
an enemy, and every ravine a blockade. Dispirited 



JOHN morgan's RlID. 257 

and worn down, they readied the river, at three, A. M., 
on the 19th, at a ford above Pomeroj, called Portland, 
at Buffington Island, and commenced- crossing." 

At Lonisville, Kentucky, General Judah had embarked 
his command on a fleet of steamers, which was increased 
at Cincinnati, accompanied by the Gunboats Moose and 
Springfield, Lieutenant Le Roy Fitch commanding, and 
proceeded up the Ohio, and landed at Portsmouth on 
the 16th, at four, P. M., and in an hour were in pursuit 
of Morgan, who was thought to be but little in ad- 
vance. But he led them on, through Webster, Porter, 
Centreville, and so on, to Pomeroy. 

The advance consisted of the advance guard. General 
Judah, escort and staff) one section of Henshaw's bat- 
ter}^, and the section belonging to the 5th Indiana Cav- 
alry. The 5th Indiana Cavalry, 14th Illinois, part of 
11th Kentucky, and 8th and 9th Michigan, all cavalry, 
composed the main body. Ilobson's, Shackleford's, and 
"Wolford's commands were several miles to the left. 
John Morgan was in the valley below. 

Here it was that a fight ensued, which opened rather 
inauspiciously. Here also the gallant Major McCook 
received his death-wound, and here also A. A. G. 
Keyes, of General Judah's staff" was captured. 

After a momentary check, and some disorder, the 
gallant 5th Indiana Cavalry, under Colonel Butler, and 
the no less gallant 14th Illinois, under Colonel Capron, 
under cover of the fire of a gun of Henshaw's battery, 
and two guns of the 5th Indiana Cavalry, dashed for- 
ward, and quickly changed the aspect of affairs ; and 
Hobson arriving, charged on the enemy's centre and 
Hank, and the gunboats also opening fire, they found 
• 17 



258 

themselves unable to endure it, and broke in wild 
disorder. 

General Shackleford and Colonel Wolford, pressing 
forward to the scene of battle, were met by 500 Eebels 
under Dick Morgan and Ward, wlio attempted to cut 
through, our lines and escape. Our line of battle was 
soon formed, expecting Morgan's whole force to meet 
it in front. 

General Shackleford ordered a charge, which being 
made, the enemy fled, leaving several killed and wounded 
behind. A flag of truce was then sent into the woods, 
when the Eebs surrendered, and marched out without 
further loss of life. 

"Seeing that the enemy had every advantage of 
position," says Cunningham, "an overwhelming force 
of infantry and cavalry, and that we were becoming 
completely environed in the meshes of the net set for 
us, the command was ordered to move up the river, at 
double quick 5 -^ -^ ^ and was moved rapidly off 
the field, leaving three companies of dismounted men, 
and perhaps 200 sick and wounded in the enemy's 
possession. Our c mnon were undoubtedly captured at 
the river." 

In fact Dick Morgan, Basil Duke, and Colonel Ward, 
with their commands were captured, numbering over 
seven hundred men, and as many horses. 

Morgan, with the residue of his command, fled in a 
parallel direction with the Ohio Eiver, keeping out 
behind the hills, to avoid the gunboats, not approach- 
ing the river till he reached Bealville, a distance of 
about fourteen miles, when, supposing he had out- 
stripped the gunboats, he rode up, with a bold front 
and demanded of the citizens assistance in crossino-. 



JOHN morgan's eaid. 259 

Under threats tliey ostensibly complied^ jet causing 
all possible delay ; so that by the time 300 of the com- 
mand were embarked, occupying all the flats and scows 
that were furnished, the gunboats appeared in sight, yet 
did not arrive in time to prevent their escape across 
the river. Some attempted to ford, but were compelled 
to swim or drown — the latter alternative being the fate 
of a few. 

The inevitable Cunningham says: "My poor mare 
being too weak to carry me, turned over, and com- 
menced going down : encumbered by clothes, saber, 
and pistols, I made but poor progress in the turbid 
stream. But the recollections of home, of a bright- 
eyed maiden in the sunny South, the pressing need of 
soldiers, and an inherent love of life, actuated me to 
continue swimmino'. ^ * ^ But I hear somethino: 
behind me snorting ! I feel it passing ! Thank God I 
am saved ! A riderless horse dashes by ; I grasp his 
tail — onward he bears me — and the shore is reached I" — ■ 
Farewell, Cunningham. 

Lieutenant Fitch reports to Secretary Wells of the 
Navy, after the BufS.ngton affair, " I followed further up 
the river, and met another portion of Morgan's force 
fording, about fourteen miles above, and shelled, and 
drove most of them back. Several were killed, fifteen 
to thirty wounded, and twenty horses captured." 

Morgan fell back, out of reach of the cannon, and 
drew up his force, seeming to wait a land attack. 
Judah and Shackleford were a mile or two in the rear, 
moving up rapidly; our boys on the gunboats were 
about to land, to attack the Eebels, when two steamers 
loaded with infantry, appeared in sight, coming down 
from the direction of Parkersburg, and they, landing 
above town, succeeded in getting in Morgan's rear. 



260 JOHN moegan's eaid. 

Shacldeford and Judah. coming up, the combined force 
commenced the attack, completely surprising the Eebels, 
who had not anticipated the nearness of Hobson's and 
and Judah's forces ; nor were they aware of the rein- 
forcements by the steamers. 

General Shackleford's report to General Burn side 
says: "We chased John Morgan over fifty miles to- 
day, (July 20th.) After heavy skirmishing for six or 
seven miles, between the enemy and the 45th Ohio, 
(Colonel Carter) of Colonel Wolford's brigade, which 
was in advance of the enemy, we succeeded in bringing 
him to a stand, about three o'clock, P. M., when a fight 
ensued, which lasted an hour, when the Eebels fled, 
taking refuge upon a high blufi*. I sent a flag of truce 
demanding an immediate and unconditional surrender 
of Morgan and his command. 

"The flag was received by Colonel Coleman and 
other officers, who came down and asked a private in- 
terview. They asked an hour for consultation among 
the officers. I granted them forty minutes, in which 
time the command, except Morgan, who deserted, taking 
with him a small squad, surrendered. 

" It was my understanding that Morgan himself sur- 
rendered ; and learned it was the understandiDg of his 
officers and men. 

" The number of killed and wounded is inconsidera- 
ble. The number of prisoners is between 1000 and 
1500, including a large number of Colonels, Majors, 
and line officers. I captured between 600 and 700 
prisoners yesterday. I think I will capture Morgan 
himself to-morrow." 

But Morgan witli tlic remnant of his band continued 
their flight, but being liotly pursued, had but little time 



JOHN morgan's raid. 261 

for miscliief. His raid being converted into a flight, 
we must pass rapidly also in our sketch, as to notice 
the innumerable particulars and incidents would prove 
tedious. 

On Saturday morning, the 25th, he was at Antrim, 
Guernsey County, and reached Cadiz, Harrison County, 
at eight o'clock. At noon he neared Winterville, four 
miles from Steubenville, and being headed off by the 
militia, he moved northward, in the direction of the 
Cleveland and Pittsburg Kailroad; but his ultimate 
purpose seemed to be to cross the Ohio Eiver near 
Wellsville. 

Major Kue, by order of General Burnside, left Cin- 
cinnati at midnight on the 23d, with about 400 men, 
chiefly composed of those who had given out in the 
chase through Southern Indiana and Ohio, and pro- 
ceeded by cars to Steubenville. The men had been 
refreshed by rest, and had fresh horses. 

On the evening of the 24th, they arrived at Bellair ; 
and from thence proceeded to Shanghai. Morgan was 
then at Eichmond, eleven miles west of Steubenville, 
closely pursued by Major "Way, 7th Michigan, of Gen- 
eral Shackleford's command. Major Eue unloaded his 
men and moved forward to Knoxville, Jefferson County, 
on the direct road to Kew Lisbon, Columbiana County. 
He pushed rapidly forward, and on Sunday came to a 
point within four or five miles of N'cav Lisbon. Morgan 
having turned eastward, was advancing along the Beaver 
Creek road, toward the river at Smith's Ferry, near the 
State line. The road on which Major Eue was ad- 
vancing, was nearly at right angles with that on which 
Moro-an was advancing. 

When almost in sight of the road. Major Eue saw a 



262 JOHN moegan's eaid. 

cloud of dust aliead^ and knew that Morgan was coming. 
The Eebels descried him almost at the same moment, 
and a race ensued between them to reach first the inter- 
section of the roads. The Major was doomed to expe- 
rience the mortification of seeing Morgan pass the point 
ahead of him, and thought he had escaped. 

But the Major had a guide who knew the country 
like a book. It was ascertained that by taking a diago- 
nal road, there was yet a chance of cutting off the bold 
Kentucky raider. Leaving thirty men to guard the 
road where Morgan, as he thought, had passed him, the 
Major and the rest of the command put spurs to their 
horses. It was- a tremendous charge. The distance was 
a mile and a half. His horses comparatively fresh — 
Morgan's jaded. It was more exciting than a steeple- 
chase; and this time the Major, to his intense gratifica- 
tion, struck the Beaver Creek road a " leetle ahead." 

Some twenty men, who first reached the road with 
Major Eue, formed across it, the others coming speedily 
up. The Eebel saw they were caught, and checked up. 
Major Kue fully expected a fight. But a white flag 
came forward, and with it a demand to surrender. 

Major Eu.e replied, that he couldn't see it, and that if 
Morgan didn't surrender immediately, and uncondition- 
ally, he would open fire on him. It soon appeared that 
Morgan had made a sort of quasi surrender to James 
Burbick, a militia Captain, lolio ivas his prisoner, who, 
it was pretended, had paroled Morgan and his officers. 
This proceeding being very properly ignored by T^Iajor 
Eue, who considered the surrender as made to him, ho 
advanced and was met by Morgan, who quietly re- 
marked: "You have beat me this time;" and expressed 
gratification that he had been taken by a Kentuckian. 



263 

The surrender took place about two o'clock Sunday, 
P. M., and in about three-quarters of an hour General 
Shackleford came up and took charge of the prisoners. 

Impelled onward by the impetuosity of Major Eue, 
we passed Major Way with one of Wolford's regiments, 
on a different road, "West Steubenville, on Saturday 
evening. 

On Sunday morning, about eight o'clock, he brought 
Morgan to a stand, near Saline ville, where, he fought, 
defeated, and utterly routed him — killed from 20 to 30, 
wounded about 50, and took 200 prisoners, 150 stands 
of arms, 150 horses, with but little loss on his part ; and 
subsequently captu.red 55 more of the Eebels. It was 
after this discomfiture that Morgan encountered Major 
Eue's command, and was captured near New Lisbon, as 
before stated. 

General Shackleford immediately telegraphed as fol- 
lows : 



" Headquarters United States Forces. 
In the field three miles south of New Lisbon 
July 26, 1863. 



■1 



" To Colonel Lewis Richmond, A. A. G. : 

" By the Blessing of Almighty God, I have succeeded 
in capturing John H. Morgan, Colonel Duke, and the 
balance of the command, amounting to about 400 
prisoners. 

'^J.M. SHACKLEFORD, 

" Brigadier-General Commanding." 

The prisoners were then forwarded by railway to 
Cincinnati, as those previously taken, had been, by 
river, on the returning boats. Morgan, Duke, and 
their staff- officers, with 13 privates, numbering 28, were 
sent to Columbus for safe keeping, by order of the War 



264 JOHN moegan's eaid. 

Department; where tliey arrived on the 30th of July, 
and were conducted to the Penitentiary, and turned 
over by General Mason to the Warden, and placed in 
close quarters, not only as prisoners of war, but as hos- 
tasres for Colonel Straio'ht and his officers immured in 
the Libby Prison at Eichmond. Fifty-two more of 
Morgan's officers, including Colonel Duke, were trans- 
ferred to the Penitentiary on the 1st of August from 
Johnson's Island, where they were at first sent. The 
13 privates were transferred to Camp Chase, where 
were some 1,300 of their comrades. A large number 
were also sent to Indianapolis. 

The costs and damages occasioned by the Morgan 
raid, in Ohio alone, as stated by Governor Tod in his 
Message to the Legislature, (January 4, 1863,) were — 
pay of militia, $250,000 ; damages by the enemy, 
$495,000; by our own troops, $152,000; being an ag- 
aggregate of $897,000, exclusive of" subsistence and 
transportation assumed by the General Government. 

To-day, freedom's children come, 

And shout with one accord. 
In praise of Burnside and our boys, 

And Hobbs and Shackleford ; 
For Morgan, bandit chief, is caged, 

Though like a hare in fright. 
Through sombre woods, from cliff to clifif, 

He fled both day and night ! 

So shout, while he and Basil Duke, 

Within the dreary shades 
Of prison walls, are musing on 

The gain of making raids, 
Through proud Ohio's rich domains, 

Where men are brave and true. 
And women love the dear old flag, 

Of red, and white and blue ! 



SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICKSBUEG. 265 

Bring forth the rusty guns, and let 

A joyful noise be made : 
Lay by the implements of toil — 

The anvil, ax, and spade : 
Heed not the silver-tasselled corn, 

Heed not the new-mown hay, 
Come all, and lift your voices loud, 

In songs and shouts to-day. — Hattie German. 



STOEY LXXYIII 



SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICKSBURG. 

INCLUDING THE CHIEF PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS. 

In December, 1862, General W. T. Sherman, with a 
strong force of infantry, on steam transports and some 
gunboats, entered the months of the Yazoo river, on the 
28th, and landing the infantry five miles above Yicks- 
burg, the defences of which, both natural and artificial, 
were then but little known, commenced an assault with 
a view to the capture of that place. The attempt being 
.unsuccessful, and the loss considerable, he retired up the 
river to Arkansas Post ; which by a most brilliant 
combined naval and military attack was captured, with 
nearly 8,000 prisoners, on the 11th of January, 1863. 
Whatever credit General McClernand may be entitled 
to, for this result, it is certain that General Sherman 
commanded in person, the attacking land forces, which, 
with the gunboats Louisville, De Kalb, Cincinnati, and 
Lexino^ton, and some lis^ht-drauo-hts, soon silenced the 
fort, and compelled its unconditional surrender. 

The expedition next moved down to Milliken's Bend 
on the 17th of January, and there disembarked. General 
Grant taking command in person, and feeling satis- 



266 SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICKSBURG. 

fied that Vicksburg could only be turned from the 
south side, set to work enlarging the canal, which had 
been previously located by General Williams, across 
the peninsula, on the Louisiana side of the river ; 
hoping to make a channel which would pass transports 
for moving the army, and carrying supplies to the new 
base of operations below. In this he was frustrated by 
heavy rains and high water. 

A new rou.te was next explored and judged practi- 
cable, throu.gh certain bayous communicating with 
Tensas river. This, with the aid of dredge boats, was 
so improved that one small steamer and several barges 
were taken through ; but the river falling rapidly, and 
the roads becoming passable between Milliken's Bend 
and New Carthage, near the middle of April, made 
this route impracticable and unnecessary. 

Soon after commencing the first canal, the General 
caused a channel to be cut from the Mississippi river 
into Lake Providence, which it was thought might 
afford a passage, by its connection with Bayou Baxter 
and Bayou Macon, for transports, through Tensas, 
Wachita, and Ked rivers, to the Mississippi below. 

Another attempted route was by way of Yazoo Pass, 
Coldwater, and Tallahatchie rivers into the Yazoo, in 
the hope of obtaining a foothold on high land above 
Haines's Bluff; but it was found that a sufficient num- 
ber of boats of the right class for conveying a sufficient 
force, could not be had; beside which, it was found 
that while our troops were opening one end of the 
route, the enemy were obstructing the other, thus gain- 
ing time to fortify Fort Pemberton, at Greenwood, so 
that our gunboats were unable to silence their batteries ; 
so the project was abandoned. 



SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICKSBUEG. 267 

Anotlier expedition was attempted by Steele's Bayou, 
Black Bayou, Deer Creek, Eolling Fork, and Sunflower, 
to the Yazoo, with the same general objects in view, 
but failed of success, from want of sufficient knowledge 
of the ro-ute. These failures were considered by the 
General as probably Providential, in driving him ulti- 
mately, to a line of operations, which proved eminently 
successful. 

The waters fast falling, and the roads beginning to 
be passable, about the middle of April. th.e land forces 
took up the line of march for New Carthage, via Eich- 
mond ; the 13th Army Corps moving first, commanded 
by General McClernancl, and the 17th imder General 
McPherson, soon folloAving. At the same time, prepa- 
rations were being made for running transports down 
past the Yicksburg batteries, with Admiral Porter's 
gunboat fleet. 

On the night of the 16th of April. Admiral Porter's 
fleet, and the transports Silver Wave, Forest Queen, and 
Henry Clay, ran the Yicksburg batteries. The boilers 
of the transports were protected as well as possible, 
with bales of hay and cotton. 

More or less commissary stores were put on each. All 
three of these boats were struck more or less frequently 
while passing the batteries, and the Henry Clay, by the 
explosion of shell, or by other means, was set on fire, 
and entirely consumed. The other two boats were not 
seriously disabled. No one on board of either was 
hurt. 

Six more boats were then prepared in like manner, 
for running the batterries, viz. : Tigress, Anglo-Saxon, 
Cheeseman, Empire City, Horizonia, and Moderator. 
These left Milliken's Bend on the night of "the 22d of 



268 SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICKSBUKG. 

April, and five of them got by, but in a somewliat 
damaged condition. 

The Tigress received a shot in her hull, below the 
water line, and sunk on the Louisiana shore, soon after 
passing the last of the batteries. The crews of these 
steamers, with the exception of the Forest Queen and 
Silver Wave, were composed of volunteers from the 
army. 

Upon the call for volunteers for this dangerous enter- 
prise, officers and men presented themselves by hun- 
dreds, anxious to undertake the trip. 

Twelve barges, loaded with forage and rations, were 
sent down in tow of the last six boats, and half of them 
got through in a condition to be used, and five of the 
transports were soon put in running order, and the 
remainder were in a condition to be used as barges, in 
moving troops* 

The loth Army Corps having got through to the 
Mississippi, as much of it as the barges would carry 
were embarked and conveyed to the front of Grand 
Gulf on the 29th of April. The plan was for the navy 
to silence the guns of the enemy, and the troops to land 
under cover of the gunboats, and carry the place by 
storm. But this was found impracticable, after five 
hours bombardment, from the fact of the enemy's guns 
being too elevated, and the fortifications too strong to 
be taken from the water side. 

It was therefore determined to ao^ain run the o-auntlet 
of the batteries, and turn the enemy's position by efiect- 
ing a landing below. Orders Avere at once given for the 
troops to debark at Hard Times, on the Louisiana shore, 
and to march down to a point opposite Bruinsburg, 
between Grand Gulf and Rodney. 



lEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICKSBUEG. 269 

At dark tlie gunboats again engaged the batteries' 
and all tbe transports ran by, with but little injury. 
The work of ferrying the troops across to Bruinsburg, 
was commenced at daybreak in the morning, both gun- 
boats and transports being used. . As soon as the loth 
Corps were crossed, three days' rations were given them, 
and they started at once on the road to Port Gibson. 
The 17th Corps crossed over, received their rations and 
followed, as speedily as possible. The 15th Corps, 
under General Sherman, had remained at Milliken's 
Bend, with orders to make a demonstration on Haines' 
Bluff, making as large a show as possible, in order to 
prevent any heavy reinforcements being sent from 
Yicksburg to the assistance of the .Grand Gulf forces. 
This ruse was executed with most admirable success. 

At two o'clock, on the 1st of May, the advance of the 
enemy was met eight miles from Bruinsburg, and com- 
pelled to fall back ; and from position to position they 
were driven, with considerable loss, all day, toward 
Port Gibson, where it was thought they would make 
another stand ; but in the morning it was found they 
had retreated. 

Port Gibson taken, Grand Gulf was evacuated by the 
enemy ; and General Grant, in person, with a small cav- 
alry escort, went there and made arrangements for 
changing his base of supplies to that place. 

General Sherman's Corps having come up, the army 
moved rapidly on, though upoji different roads, from 
victory to victory, including in brilliant succession. 
Champion's Hill, or Baker's Creek, Raymond, Jackson, 
and Black River Bridge, where the entire garrison and 
seventeen pieces of artillery were captured. • 

General Sherman, by the morning of the 18th of 



270 SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICKSBUEG. 

May, had crossed the Black Eiver, at Bridgeport, above, 
by means of pontoons, and was ready to inarch on 
Walnut Hills. McClernand and McPherson built float- 
ing bridges during the night, and were ready for cross- 
ing their commands by eight o'clock, A. M., of the 18th. 

Sherman marched at an early hour, taking the Bridge- 
port and Vicksburg road, turning to the right when 
within three and a half miles of Yicksburg, to get pos- 
session of the Walnut Hills and the Yazoo Eiver, which 
he successfully accomplished before night. 

McPherson crossed the Black Eiver above the Jack- 
son Eoad, and came into the same road with Sherman, 
but in his rear. He arrived at night-fall with his 
advance to where Sherman turned to the right. 

McClernand moved by the Jackson and Yicksburg 
road to Mount Albans, and there turned to the left, to 
get into Baldwin's Ferry Eoad. By this disposition, the 
three army corps covered all the ground their numbers 
w^ould admit of, and by the morning of the 19th, the 
investment of Yicksburg was made as complete as could 
be, by the forces at General Grant's command. 

During the day there was continuous skirmishing, 
and, relying upon the demoralization of the enemy, in 
consequence of their late repeated defeats, a general 
assault was ordered at two, P. M., in hopes of being 
able to carry their works. 

The loth, Sherman's Corps, from having arrived in 
front of the works on the 18th, to get a good position, 
were enabled to make a vigorous assault. The 13th 
and 17th Corps succeeded no further than to gain 
advanced positions, covered from the fire of the enemy. 
The 20th .and 21st of May were spent in perfecting 
communicalions with the army supplies, which, it may 



SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICKSBUEG. 271 

well be supposed, Avere beginning to be mncb needed, 
after marching and fighting for twenty days, on an 
average of about five days' rations drawn from the 
Commissary Department. 

On the 21st, the General, having completed his 
arrangements for drawing supplies of every descrip- 
tion, determined to make another eflbrt to carry Yicks- 
burg by assault. Orders were accordingly given for a 
general assault on the whole line, to commence at ten 
o'clock, A. M., on the 22d. 

Promptly, at the appointed time, the three army 
corps, then in front of the enemy's Avorks, commenced 
the assault. General Grant had taken a commanding 
position near McPherson's front, from which he could 
see all the advancing columns from that corps, and a 
part of each of Sherman's and McClernand's. 

A portion of the commands of each, succeeded in 
planting their flags on the outer slopes of the enemy's 
bastions, and maintaining them there till night. Each 
corps had many more men than could possibly be used 
in the a'ssault, over such unfavorable ground as inter- 
vened between them and the enemy. 

The assault was gallant in the extreme, on the part 
of all the troops; but the enemy's position was too 
strong, both naturally and artificially, to be taken in 
that way. At every point assaulted, and at all of them 
at the same time, the enemy was able to shoAV all the 
force his works could cover. 

The assault failed, Avith much loss on our side, but 
Avithout Aveakening the confidence of our troops in their 
ability to ultimately succeed. 

No troops succeeded in entering any of the enemy's 
AVorkS; Avith the exception of Sergeant Grifiith, of the 



272 SIEGE AND CAPITULATION OF VICK3BURG. 

21st Iowa, and some eleven privates of tlie same regi- 
ment, none of whom returned except the Sergeant, and 
possibly one of the privates. 

After this failure, General Grant determined on pro- 
secuting a regular siege. The troops being now fully 
aware of the necessity of it, worked diligently and 
cheerfully, and the work progressed rapidly and satis- 
factorily, until the 3d of July, when all was about ready 
for a final assault. 

Of this state of readiness on our part, the Eebels 
were not ignorant ; and dreading the consequences, and 
anticipating the result of an assault. General Pember- 
ton, on the afternoon of the 3d of July, sent a letter, 
under a flag of truce, to General Grant proposing an 
armistice, and the appointment of commissioners to 
arrange terms of capitulation. The result was the sur- 
render of the city and garrison of Yicksburg, at ten 
o'clock, A. M., July 4th, 1863, on the following terms: — 

The entire garrison, ofiicers and men, were to be 
paroled, not to take up arms against the United States, 
until exchanged by the proper authorities ; officers and 
men, each to be furnished with a parole, signed by him- 
self; ofl&cers to be allowed their side-arms, and private 
baggage; and the field, stafi* and cavalry officers, one 
horse each; the rank and file to be allowed all their 
clothing, but no other property ; rations from their own 
stores, sufficient to last them beyond our lines; ,the 
necessary cooking utensils for preparing their food ; 
and thirty wagons to transport such articles as could 
not be carried. 

These terms were considered by General Grant, as 
more favorable to the government than an unconditional 
surrender, as it saved us the transportation of the pri- 



CAPITULATION OF POET HUDSON. 273 

soners to the North; which at that time would have 
been very difficult, owing to the limited amount of 
river transportation on hand, and the expenses of sub- 
sisting them. 

Our army was thus left free to operate against John- 
ston, who was threatening it from the direction of Jack- 
son ; and our river transportation was ready to be used 
for the movement of troops to any point the exigency 
of the service might require. 

However expedient the arrangement may have been, 
it failed to receive the hearty approval of the country, 
from the general lack of confidence that the Eebels 
would observe it on their part in good faith. That they 
did not, has been subsequently abundantly shown ; the 
Rebel government itself sanctioning the wholesale viola- 
tion of the parole. 



STORY LXXIX. 



CAPITULATION OF PORT HUDSON. 

On the morning of the 7th of July, 1863, a salute 
was fired from both the upper and lower fleets, im- 
mediately on the reception of the news from Yicksburg, 
and the bands of the different regiments struck up 
national and patriotic airs. The wildest enthusiasm 
prevailed among the soldiers all day ; and the prox- 
imity of the contending forces, enabled the Rebels in 
Port Hudson to hear the cheering, without enlightening 
them as to the cause. 

At several points on the lines, the Rebels and our 
troops were so near together that conversations could be 
held, and were carried on, without danger to either party. 

18 



274 CAPITULATION- OF POBT HUDSON. 

Toward evening, on tTie Tth, the curiosity of tlie 
Bebels to learn what was going on, became so great, 
that one of their ofl&cers called out to a Union officer, 
asking, "What are you making all that noise about?" 
The answer was, " We have taken Vicksburg." 

The Eebel officer said he did not believe it, and on 
being asked what would convince him of its tru.th, he 
replied, "Nothing but a copy of the dispatch, or some 
reliable authority." 

The Union officer then told him he would procure a 
copy of General Grant's official dispatch, and pass it 
over the parapet to him. The Eebel said if he would 
do so, and vouch for its genuineness, on his honor as a 
gentleman, and a soldier, he would be convinced. 

The Union officer at once procured a copy of the dis- 
patch, and taking it to the enemy's breatsworks, gave it 
to the officer with whom he had been conversing, and 
at the same time assured him, on the honor of a soldier, 
that the dispatch was genuine, and that he had copied 
it with his own hand. 

The Eebel having read it, said he was satisfied of its 
truthfulness, and that he thought it useless for Port 
Hudson longer to attempt to hold out. Things remained 
in the same position as previous to the interview, until 
two o'clock the next morning, when a parley was sounded 
from the Eobel works, aud an officer came out, with a 
dispatch from the Eebel General Gardner, asking on 
what terms a surrender would be accepted. 

As soon as the message could be conveyed to Gen- 
eral Banks, an answer was returned, in effect, that only 
an unconditional surrender would be accepted. 

General Gardner accepted the terms, and asked a few 
hours to make the necessary arrangements. He was 



CAPITULATION OF POET HUDSON. 275 

given twenty-four honrs, but did not take that length 
of time. At twelve. M., on the 8th of July, our forces 
entered Port Hudson, and became the masters of that 
strong-hold. 

The Rebels were all drawn up in line of battle, num- 
bering about four thousand men fit for duty, with their 
arms stacked in front of them, and surrendered ; and 
being^ in a suft'ering^ condition for want of food, were 
promptly fed from the commissariat of our army. 

In addition to the number aforesaid, there were about 
fifteen hundred sick and wounded men — about five 
hundred of the latter. Their wounds were, generally, 
very severe^in the head, by the bullets of our sharp- 
shooters. 

Our batteries had done a great deal of damage, hav- 
ing destroyed an immense amount of stores. ' The 
Rebel sick had sufiered terribly, from their almost 
total destitution of medical stores. 

The United States flag was run up at nine o'clock, 
on Thursday morning, the 9th of July, and was saluted 
by the Hartford as she passed. There was a good 
supply of ammunition in the fort, all of which fell into 
our hands. This was the fifth day after the surrender of 
Vicksburg. 

There had been much toil, privation, and suflering 
on both sides; but the justice of our cause had in- 
spired our troops with a determined, persevering 
energy, and indomitable bravery, that could not fail, 
under skillful and courageous leaders, of triumphant 
success and ultimate victory. 

"And conquer we must, for our cause it is just, 
And this be our motto, in 'God is our trust ;' 
And the Star-spangled Banner in triumph shall wave 
O'er the land of the Free, and the home of the Brave." 



276 MIDNIGHT CHARGE OF THE MULE BRIGADE. 

STOEY LXXX. • 



MIDNIGHT CHARGE OF THE MULE BRIGADE UP LOOKOUT 
VALLEY. 

While General Hooker's army was moving up 
Lookout Yalley, from some unknown cause a stampede 
among the mules occurred, which is worth relating, as 
it was an incident that afforded much merriment at the 
expense of the Rebels. It was in the dead of the night; 
when both armies were resting from the fatigues of the 
previous day, and the sentinel's tread was the only sound 
that disturbed the universal quiet. 

Rushing from the wagons, to the number of about 
thirty, the mules made for the enemy's lines like fright- 
ened sheep. The drivers were awakened by the noise 
just in time to witness the disappearance of the animals 
through our advanced pickets. The enemy's pickets 
were not caught napping. 

Hearing the mule brigade tearing across the valley, 
they mistook them for Yankee cavalry, discharged 
their muskets at the supposed " Yanks," and fell back 
upon a battalion, stationed a little in the rear of them, 
with the cry that the enemy were upon them. The bat- 
talion taking the alarm, sprang to arms, only in time 
to hear the sound of the frightened mules, whose race 
was not checked by the volley from the pickets. 

They retreated, also, a short distance, to a point where 
a whole Rebel brigade had stacked their arms, and 
were calmly dreaming of home and battle scenes. In 
rushed the battalion, more dead than alive from fright, 
with the exclamation — " Hooker has surprised us ! his 
cavalry is upon us !" The valiant sons of Mars did not 



STOEY OF GENERAL SIGEL. 277 

wait to gather up tlieir blankets or guns, but made the 
fastest pedestrian time on record back to the main force ; 
leaving upon the field, for the mule brigade, over one 
thousand stand of arms, amoDg which, were three hun- 
dred new Enfield rifles, blankets, small arms, knap- 
sacks, &c. 

Meantime our teamsters had given the alarm, and a 
force was sent out for the recovery of the mules, and 
in a few hours, the expedition, inaugurated by the 
mules, returned to our lines with the valuable spoils. 
This is no fancy sketch ; its correctness is vouched for 
by a member of General Thomas' staff, who was pre- 
sent when the expedition returned. 

It will be recollected that in his report of Hooker's 
victory. General Thomas stated that 1,500 stands of 
arms were captured. Eeaders were, no doubt, generally 
at a loss to discover by what process more arms were 
taken than prisoners. In the midnight charge of the 
mule brigade, they may find a solution of the problem. 
Through its aid a large amount of valuable stores and 
arms were secured, and General Hooker was enabled to 
push his advance much nearer the point of ground con- 
tended for. All will agree that the charge of the mule 
brigade is worthy of a place in history. 



STOEY LXXXI. 



STORY OF GENERAL SIGEL. 



On the return of General Fremont's army from South- 
western Missouri, Sigel commanded the Division that 
came by Lebanon to RoUa. A few miles north of Leba- 



278 GENERAL ORDER. — A HEROINE. 

non tlie army encamped for tlie niglit, on the farm of a 
man wlio was in sympathy with the Eebellion^ and his 
fence-rails were all burned for fire- wood, and his farm 
stripped of whatever was useful and necessary to subsist 
the troops and horses of the train. 

In the morning the farmer came with a large bill of 
damageS; and asked for payment. The Quartermaster 
came to General Sigel to know what should be done 
about it. Colonel Warmoth was present, and the Gene- 
ral asked him whether the man was a loyal citizen. 
The Colonel replied that he was a conditional Union 
man at first, but that he had afterward sympathized 
with the Eebellion. 

Turning to the Quartermaster- General, Sigel then 
replied — " Mr. Quartermaster, then you sympathize with 
the Government." It is hardly necessary to add, that 
the Secesh farmer did not obtain what he came for. 



STORY LXXXII. 



GENERAL ORDER-A HEROINE. 

Headquarters, District of Central Missouri, \ 
Jefferson City, August 9tli, 18G3. J 

GENERAL ORDERS NO. 42. 

On the night of the 6th instant, a party of bush- 
whackers, some three in number, visited the house of a 
Mr. Schwarltz, about twelve miles from Jefierson City, 
Cole County, and on demanding admittance, were re- 
fused by Miss Schwarltz, a young lady of fifteen. They 
replied that they would come in, at the same time trying 
to break down the door. 

While this was going on, the other inmates of the 



GENEEAL OKDEE. — A HEEOINE. 279 

toiTse^ VIZ., Mr. Schwarltz, Jolin Wise, Captain Golden, 
Government horse-dealer, and a young man in Hs 
employ, all left, taking with them (as they supposed) 
all the arms and ammunition ; but in their hasty retreat 
they left behind a revolver, which Miss Schwarltz 
appropriated to her own use. 

She went to the door, and on opening it, presented 
the pistol to the leader of the gang, telling them to 
" come on, if they wanted to, and that some of them 
would fall, or she would." They threatened to kill her 
if she did not leave the door. She replied, " the first 
one who takes one step toward this door, dies, for this 
is the home of my parents, and my brothers and sisters ; 
and I am able, and shall defend it." Seeing that she 
was determined in her purpose, after holding a consul- 
tation together, they left. 

Here is an instance of true courage, in a young girl 
of fifteen years of age, who, after all the inmates of the 
house, even her father, had fled, leaving her alone to 
her fate, with a courage worthy a Joan of Arc, boldly 
defended her native home, against three blood-thirsty, 
cowardly ruf&ans ; and by her coolness and heroic dar- 
ing, succeeded in turning them from their hellish designs. 

It is with feelings of no ordinary pride and pleasure, 
that the Commanding General announces this fact to 
the citizens and soldiers in his district. On the other 
hand, those miserable cowards, who deserted this brave 
girl in the hour of danger, flying from the house, leav- 
ing her to her fate, are unworthy the name of men, 
deserve the scorn and contempt of the community at 
large, and their society should be shunned by every one 
who has the least spark of honor or bravery within him. 

By order of Brigadier-General Beown. 

J. BAINSFOED, A. A. G. 



280 GENEEAL HOWARD. — AN INCIDENT. 



STOEY LXXXIII. 



GENERAL HOWARD— AN INCIDENT. 

An unrecorded incident of tlie midnight figlit between 
Hooker's and Longstreet's forces, in Lookout Yalley, on 
the night of the 30th of October, 1863, is related by 
C. D. Brigham, correspondent of the New Yorh Tribune, 
as follows : — 

" A short time subsequent to this magnificent charge 
on the enemy in their breastworks, by General Geary's 
brigade. General Howard, taking with him a small 
escort of cavaby, started for that part of the field where 
General Geary was supposed to be. He had not gone 
far, when he came up with a body of infantry. ' What 
cavalry is that?' was the hail. 'AH right,' responded 
General Howard, at the same time calling out, 'What 
men are these?' 'Longstreet's,' was the reply. 'All 
right — come here,' said General Howard. The men 
approached. 'Have we whipped those fellows?' asked 
the General, in a manner to keep up the deception. 

' Xo, d n them, they were too much for us, and drove 

us from our rifle-pits, like devils. We're whipped, our- 
selves.' By this time the Kebels had gathered nearer. 
'Lay down your arms!' demanded General H., in a 
stern voice. The men surrendered. 

"Taking his prisoners in charge. General H. pro- 
ceeded on his wajT-. He had not gone far, before 
another party of Rebel infantry called out, ' What cav- 
alry is that?' 'All right,' was the response, again, of 
General Howard, as he proceeded. On approaching the 
position occupied by Gear}^, that officer had observed 



EXECUTION OF REUBEN STOUT. 281 

the advancing horsemen, and infantry, as tie supposed 
the prisoners to be, and taking them to be Eebels, he 
had ordered his guns to be loaded with canister, and in 
a moment more would have given the intrepid Howard 
and his little force the benefit of it. 

" But the General who had successfully deceived the 
enemy, found a way to make himself known to his 
friends, and so escaped a reception of that kind," 



STORY LXXXIV. 



EXECUTION OF REUBEN STOUT ON JOHNSON'S ISLAND. 

Reuben Stout, Company K, 60th Indiana, convicted 
of desertion, and the murder of Solomon Hoffman, 
on the 14th of March, 1863, at Madison, Carroll County, 
Indiana, was shot on Friday, October — , 1863. 

The exection was on the Bay shore, in front of the 
prison yard. The Hoffman Battalion was formed in a 
hollow square, Open on the bay side, where the prisoner 
was seated on his cofiin. Colonel Pierson and staff" 
were within the square. The execution party was in 
command of Lieutenant McElroy, Provost Marshal. 
The orders and sentence were read by Lieutenant 
Bailey, Post Adjutant. 

Portions of the prisoner's statement, as herewith 
given, were then read by the Chaplain, it being too 
lengthy to be read entire. Praj^er was offered in Eng- 
lish by the Chaplain, and also by Rev. M. Miller, pastor 
of the German Church in Sandusky, in the German 
language. 



282 EXECUTION OF REUBEN STOUT. 

After tlie services the cap was placed over the eyes 
of the prisoner, by E. M. Keith, the Hospital Steward, 
and the command given to fire by the Provost Marshal. 
The prisoner fell immediately, seven balls taking effect, 
there being eight of the execution party, one having a 
blank cartridge. Dr. Woodbridge, Surgeon of the Post, 
went up and examined the prisoner, and pronounced 
him dead. 

The battalion under the command of Major Scoville, 
marched past the body, the band playing the dead march. 
When past the body, they march to the parade ground 
at a quick step. The remains of the prisoner were 
decently laid out, and buried in the prison grave-yard 
on the island. 

Stout left a statement, Avhicli was published in the 
Sandusky papers, from which we extract the fol- 
lowing : — • 

" I staid with my company and regiment, until No- 
vember 26th, 1862, when we got a furlough to go home, 
the regiment having been captured at Crane River, 
Kentucky, and paroled as prisoners of Avar. We were 
sent to Indianapolis to be exchanged and draw arms 
again. All the men of the regiment got furloughs for 
a few days to go home to their friends. 

"I went home and staid out my time, and then 
started to go to- my regiment. I vv^ent as far as La- 
fayette, my wife and her sister going as far as Dayton, 
Indiana. I took sick at Lafayette, and stayed there 
about five days. My father-in-law then took me home 
to his house to stay till I got well. 

"After I had been there about two weeks, I was ad- 
vised by various persons not to go back to the army. 
They said this was only an 'Abolition war/ and ad- 



COLONEL long's kaid IN bragg's eear. 283 

vised me to stay at home, and they would protect me. 
I was induced to go to a meeting of the so-called 
'Knights of the Grolden Circle,' and was made a mem- 
ber of that organization. 

" The obligation of the order bound us to do all we 
could against the war — to resist a draft, if one should 
be made, and likewise to resist and oppose all con- 
fiscation, or emancipation measures, in every possible 
way. "We were sworn to stand by each other in all 
measures of resistance. We were pledged to do all we 
could to prevent another man or dollar going from the 
State for the further prosecution of the war. I met 
with this secret meeting several times, and entered into 
their views and plans. 

"I was led by the evil counsels of this traitorous 
organization, to stay away from my post of duty in the 
army, for which I am truly sorry. I am sorry that I 
ever lifted my hand against the life of my fellow-man. 
I would affectionately, and earnestly urge all in the 
service of their country, not to do as I have done ; but 
to be faithful to their obligations as soldiers, avoiding 
all disloyal counsels and obligations." 



STORY LXXXV. 



colonel LONG'S RAID IN BRAGG'S REAR. 

The battle of Chattanooga was fought and won 
without the aid of cavalry on our side ; the ridge being 
so steep as to render their use in front impracticable. 
But the indefatigable Grant did not allow the cavalry 
to remain idle. 



284 coLOXEL long's raid in- bragg's rear. 

On the afternoon of Tuesday, the 24th of November, 
1863, Colonel Long, with one battalion of the 1st Ohio, 
3d Ohio, and 4th Michigan Cavalry, and 17th Indiana, 
and 98 Illinois Mounted Infantry, quiety crossed Sher- 
man's pontoons, and while the enemy's attention was 
attracted by Sherman's batteries started for Bragg's 
rear, and a little after dark were three miles in the rear 
of his right, where they came upon, and captured, eleven 
wagons laden with forage ; and then moved on six miles 
further, when they stopped and fed ; after which they 
moved on to Altamont, and destroyed the railroad and 
telegraph, and captured two couriers with important 
dispatches from Joe Johnson to Bragg. 

Early on the next morning, having heard of a train 
of supplies belonging to Cheatham, en route from Long- 
street to Bragg's army. Colonel Seidell, of the 3d Ohio, 
supported by the rest of the command, started to cap- 
ture it. 

After a rapid ride of ten miles, they came up with, 
and captured the train which proved to be a very 
valuable one, consisting of eighty wagons laden with 
Quartermaster's stores, and Paymaster's chest, contain- 
ing eighty thousand dollars in Rebel currency, and five 
hundred in gold and silver. The guard, horses, and 
mules were also all captured. 

Retracing their steps, they approached Cleveland, in 
the suburbs of which, they took six teams, and soon 
after three well-laden Quartermasters' wagons. The 
whole command then entered Cleveland, to the surprise 
and joy of the citizens, and consternation of the 24th 
Rebel Cavalry; who were not long in putting a safe 
distance between themselves and the "Yanks." 

At Cleveland large supplies of wheat and flour were 



COLONEL long's RAID IN BRAGG'S REAR. 285 

captured, and the factory for making percussion caps and 
shells was destroyed. Wednesday night was spent in 
Cleveland, and on Thursday morning a detachment was 
sent to Charleston, where a sharp fight occurred, with 
the loss to us of private Kasson, 3d Ohio. The 98th 
Illinois gave it to them with their "Spencers," while 
the 3d Ohio charged their works, taking eight pri- 
soners ; the enemy opening on them with a battery on 
the opposite side of Chickamauga Eiver. They re- 
turned on the Dalton and Kingston Kailroad, destroyed 
it for twelve miles, and rejoined the command at Cleve- 
land. 

At four o'clock, A.M., on the 26th, the pickets were 
attacked, and at five the command Avas in line, and 
fought briskly two hours, and then fell back on the 
Harrison road, as the enemy appeared in force with 
artillery. 

They arrived in Chattanooga, at eight o'clock, P. M., 
on the 26th, with three hundred and sixty-five pri- 
soners, four hundred mules, and four Eebel flags ; one 
of which belonged to the celebrated Buckner Guards, 
and was inscribed " victory or death." 

The Union citizens of Cleveland, presented the 3d 
Ohio with a fine flag ; and seemed anxious to testify 
their good will in every way. Every thing they could 
do for the boys, during their short stay, was cheerfull}^ 
done. 

This raid was one of the best, and most successful of 
the war, and its execution could not have been entrusted 
to worthier hands. They proved themselves a veteran 
force, and rendered signal service to the army, at a 
critical time. 



286 QUEER ADVENTURE AND NARROW ESCAPE. 



STOKY LXXXYI. 



QUEER ADVENTURE AND NARROW ESCAPE. 

Lieutenant McInttre of the 9tli Illinois Cavalry, 
relates that just as tlie fight near Summerville, West 
Tennessee, commenced, lie arrived on the ground with 
a dispatch from General Grierson to Colonel Prince. 

Finding himself surrounded and unable to escape, he 
•sprang from his horse and crawled under a house ; but 
fearing that this mi-ght not be a safe place, he crept to 
a cotton gin a short distance off* 

In the gin he found a large heap of cotton-seed. 
Jumping into the heap he covered himself with the 
seed, so as leave only his head out, over which he 
pulled a basket. 

Here the Lieutenant was feeling comparatively safe, 
an officer of the 7th sprang in the door, with a dozen 
Eebels at his heels. The officer ran up stairs and hid 
under some loose boards in the floor. The Eebels put 
a guard around the house and began a vigorous search. 

Up stairs and down they went, several times, and 
every hiding place but the right one was examined. 
They knew that the officer was there, in some place, 
and they were determined to have him. 

Presently the heap of cotton- seed caught their atten- 
tion, and forthwith they commenced plunging their 
sabers into it. The heap was probed in all directions, 
but providentially without touching the Lieutenant's 
body. 

At last, one of the Eebs, exasperated beyond endur- 
ance, at their ill-success, vented his anger on the basket 



ESCAPE OF DE. WILLIAM T. EUCKER. 287 

over tlie Lieutenant's head, by striking it a furious blow 
with bis sword. 

Had tbe Lieutenant not kept a vigorous hokl to the 
handle, the basket would have been knocked a rod. 
Just then some occurrence outside caused them to 
hurry away, and both officers escaped. 



STOEY LXXXYIL 



ESCAPE OF DR. RUCKER FROM A REBEL PRISON AND HIS 
SUBSEQUENT ADVENTURES AND FINAL SAFETY. 

Dr. William T. Euckee, a well-known Union leader 
of West Virginia, who was captured at the surrender of 
Summerville, in 'Nicholas county, Va., in July, 1862, 
arrived in Washington in November, 1863, having 
escaped from the Eebel Penitentiary in Pittsylvania, 
Va. The story of his treatment and escape is full of 
interesting and instructive incident. 

The Doctor was first sent, with other prisoners, to 
Sulphur Springs, where he was put in irons and other- 
wise harshly treated. He was afterward sent to Lynch- 
burg, where, being well known, his active loyalty induced 
even greater severity. He was put in double irons, with 
the cuffs firmly riveted about his arms and legs. 

In August he was sent to Eichmond, and closely con- 
fined in Castle Thunder, with a special guard over him, 
to prevent his escape. While at Eichmond he saw two 
Union prisoners shot at Libby, and one at Castle Thun- 
der, on the most trivial provocations. 

Governor Letcher represented to the Eebel Secretary 
of War, that Eucker was a notorious character, guilty 



288 ESCAPE OF DR. WILLIAM T. RUCKER. 

of treason to the State of Yirginia, and, therefore, he 
should of right be surrendered to the State authorities 
for trial. After considerable correspondence on the 
subject, the Confederate authorities consented, and 
turned over the prisoner to be tried for crimes alleged 
to have been committed against the State of Virginia. 
He was accordingly taken from the prison at Eich- 
mond, sent to Allegheny county, and confined in a jail 
to await his trial. 

Ten separate indictments were brought against him 
. — one for murder, one for treason, one for arson, three 
for horse- stealing, one for Avagon- stealing, and one for 
bridge-burning. Dr. Rucker believes that he escaped 
being indicted for several other crimes, simply because 
they did not occur to the minds of the Grand Jury. 

On the charge of murder, the prisoner pleaded a 
change of venue, which was sustained, and the case was 
sent to Botetourt county. On all the other charges he 
pleaded alieii enemy, but being a citizen of Western 
Virginia, he was held to be a citizen of Virginia, and 
hence the plea Avas disallowed. The trial was several 
times continued, and often deferred, though the prisoner 
vigorously urged a trial, knowing that the sooner his 
case was brought to a crisis, the better it would be for 
him. He was forced to employ four different counsel 
at $2,000 each, and these were threatened with mob- 
violence if once they appeared in the defence. 

When nearly a year had passed in a fruitless effort 
to procure a trial, during which time Dr. Rucker was 
held in close confinement, the United States Govern- 
ment determined to hold one Dr. Greene, an Assistant- 
Surgeon in the Rebel army as a hostage for his return. 

In June, 1863, he was removed to the prison in Pitt- 



ESCAPE OF DR. AVILLIAM T. RUCKER. 289 

sylvania, the strongest and most secure prison in tlie 
State. It was noAV evident to Ms friends that escape 
was impossible, and he was given over as lost : friends 
were not allowed to visit him, but bitter enemies had 
full privilege to taunt and insult him through the 
prison bars. The Union people were permitted to send 
him provisions but not to see him. The Eebels told 
him that the Confederate Government would starvcthe 
Union prisoners, until the Yankee Government AVould 
consent to their terms of exchange, and leave such men 
as himself, Colonel Straight, and officers of negro regi- 
ments in their hands to be properly punished. 

By careful observation, Dr. Eucker ascertained that 
the jailor's son, not twenty months old, at times had the 
key to the debtor's room, which was directly opposite 
his cell, to play with ; he at once determined to secure 
the key and effect his escape. At a favorable moment 
he bribed the child with chestnuts and fruits, and thus 
gained possession of the much coveted key. 

On the night of the 18th of October, 1863, soon after 
dark, he carefully turned the key, slid back the bolts, 
and almost in a moment was free. He passed out of 
the village of Pittsylvania on the Raleigh road, having 
determined to reach the Union troops on the North 
Carolina coast. When a short distance on the road he 
discovered that he had left behind papers that would 
betray his route through North Carolina, he changed 
his course, retraced his steps through the village, tra- 
veled all night as rapidly as possible, (having secured 
a horse not far from the village,) and Avas at daylight 
in a toAvn far to the north\\'ard, where he Avas received 
by a trusty friend and concealed till the 27th. 

During this time he Avas visited by many old ao- 
Z 19 



290 ESCAPE OF DR. WILLIAM T. RUCKER. 

quaintances^ avIio gave liim proper assistance, and 
among other things, a blooded horse, vahied at §1,000, 
provided especially for the occasion. On the night 
of the 27th, with this animal he traveled sixty-five 
miles. During the next day he slept soundly at the 
house of a loyal friend, his horse being concealed in a 
corn-shuck pen. Early at night he resumed his jour- 
ney, and at two o'clock next morning passed through 
Covington, Allegheny county. In this village he called 
at the house of a supposed friend, to make some in- 
quiry, and immediately proceeded on his way. 

When a fcAV miles from Covington he found his 
strength so rapidly failing, that he determined to stop 
in a thicket near the road and rest. Soon after day- 
light, j udging from the noise and confusion along the 
road, he believed himself betrayed by his Covington 
friend, and afterward learned that the wife of the gen- 
tleman, of whom he made inquiry, had published the 
fact of his passage through the village. He determined 
to abandon his horse and equipments, and flee to the 
mountains. He remained two days and nights in the 
Alleghenies without food, and only once found water. 

On the evening of tlie 3 1st of October, pressed with 
hunger, and perishing with cold, he descended to the 
foot of the mountains. When night set in, a heavy rain 
commenced falling, and the night was dark and stormy. 
It was a question of life or death : scouts thirsting for 
his blood were on every side, and every road: twice 
they had passed close to his retreat in the mountains, 
and he knew not what moment he might fall, into their 
hands. He, however, determined to come out into the 
valley, and seek relief. The first house he passed he 
knew to be the residence of a notorious Rebel. 



ESCAPE OF DR. WILLIAM T. RUCKER. 291 

As lie was passing a narrow ravine near tliis lioiise, 
lie suddenly heard a soft and low whistle ; he instantly 
stood still, as if pierced to the heart, and transformed to 
stone. While deliberating what to do, the sound was 
repeated. It might be an enemy signaling to a comrade, 
or it might perchance be a friend. He seized his pistol 

and demanded, ''Who's there?" A voice replied . 

The Doctor thought he recognized both the name, ^and 
the voice to be those of a faithful negro boy, the pro- 
perty of the Eebel owner of the house near by. The 
negro inquired, -"'Are you Dr. Rucker?" "No," said 
the Doctor, " what do you know about Dr. Eucker ? — 
come closer." The negro half frightened, yet still con- 
fident, said, ''Your voice sounds mighty like de doc- 
tor's." He stepped forward, and -there was a mutual 
recognition, and short greetings. 

The loyal negro had come out to save his friend. 
He told him a guard was stationed on every road, and 
that he was completely surrounded ; the scouts had been 
at his master's house, the night before, and he overheard 
in their conversation that they were after Dr. Eucker, 
and expected to catch him on the road near by. He had 
determined to save him if possible, and for that purpose 
had watched for him in the ravine, where he had pro- 
vided some bread and meat. This the famished fuo;i- 
tive eagerly consumed, and then followed his faithful 
guide, who piloted him round three sets of pickets, and 
left him safe with a friend, several miles beyond. 
Thence he made his way across Green Briar Eiver, and 
was piloted to a concealed fortification, erected by the 
Union men and conscripts, who were w^ell armed, and 
determined to defend themselves till death. 

Dr. Eucker remained in this fortress two days, and 



292 GALLANTRY OF LIEUTENANT MILNE. 

tlience in three days made his escape to Gauley Bridge, 
held by the Union troops, commanded by Captain Mer- 
riman of the 5th Virginia. From this post, the Doctor 
telegraphed to Secretary Stanton the fact of his escape. 



STORY LXXXVIIL 



GALLANTRY OF LIEUTENANT MILNE. 

I MUST not forget to mention the gallantry of a young 
officer in the ens^ao-ement at Lafourche, Louisiana. Ser- 
geant Henry Milne, of the 4th Wisconsin, was recently 
promoted to a first lieutenancy in the 1st Louisiana Na- 
tive Guard, (Heavy Artillery,) and detailed as assistant 
superintendent of Negro labor. 

Riding tlirough Lafourche one day, he gave infor- 
mation of the approach of the enemy to Colonel Stick- 
ney, of the 17th Massachusetts, the commanding officer 
of our forces, and informed him that he could success- 
fully manage the field-piece which stood before them. 
Although an entire stranger, in the emergency, he was 
appointed chief of artillery. He dismounted, and im- 
mediately commenced drilling the artillerists. 

AVhen the enemy's cavalry appeared, he loaded witli 
shell, trained the gun and fired. He killed two men, 
dismounted twelve, and killed two horses. At closer 
range he used only canister. The enemy charged upon 
the battery, but he cried, "Steady, boys," — and took 
good aim. 

Tlie contest had now become so close, tliat a Rebel 
soldi(>r had Ids liand clasped tight around tlie throat of 



293 

an infantry captain, ono of whose soldiers repulsed his 
impudence by thrusting his bayonet entirely throagli 
the Eebel's heart. 

Another ran up to Lieutenant Milne, placed his hand 
upon the gun and shouted, "Surrender!" "Never!" 
was the answer. "Hand me a shot, boys," said the 
Lieutenant. " Don't you fire that again !" screamed the 
Eebel. Lieutenant Milne, with the strength of a giant, 
hurled the ball at his antagonist, who fell dead at his 
feet. Kallying again, to the task before him, he loaded 
and fired with lightning-like rapidity, until the enemy 
were repulsed, and the victory won. His faithful horse 
lay dead under his gun, but eighteen dead butternuts 
bore him company. General Emory publicly announced 
his determination to promote the young hero, the gal- 
lant Lieutenant Milne. 



STORY LXXXIX. 



JOHN MORGAN'S RAID AGAIN. 

INCIDENTS FROM THE NEWSPAPERS. 

Near Corydon, Indiana, a minister, named Glenn, 
who owned the finest house in that section, fired upon 
the Rebels. He was dragged into the house by- his 
wife, who closed the doors. The Rebels burst open the 
door, wounded him through both thighs, set fire to the 
house, and left Glenn to perish in the flames. 

His wife and other ladies in the house, dragged him 
out to an orchard, and thus saved him from being 
roasted alive. Xear Maukport, they also killed Garrett 



294 

Hunt, and just above the town, tliey murdered Wm. 
Fraliee. 

The story runs that Morgan captured Wash. De 
Pauw, one of the weahhiest men of Southern Indiana, 
and said to him, " Sir, do you consider your flouring- 
mill worth $2,000 ?" Mr. De PauAv said he thought It 
was w^orth that. "Then," said the robber chief, "you 
can save it for the $2,000." Mr. De Pauw paid the 
money. "Now," proceeded Morgan, "do you think 
you woollen-mill is worth $3,000?" Mr. De Pauw 
admitted that it was probably worth more than that. 
"Well," said the Eebel, "you can have it for $3,000. 
And Mr. De Pauw took it. So they levied $5,000 on 
him. 

Near Corydon, William Heth, keeper of the toll-gate, 
fired on the Eebels. They shot him dead and burned 
his house. They also burned a fine stone-mill in the 
neighborhood ; and killed Caleb Thomas and Jeremiah 
Nance. 

Lieutenant Adams, of Morgan's band, with a squad, 
after burning a bridge north of Salem, went to a Quaker 
farmer's house, hard by, and called for some milk. 
The Friend demurely accompanied the Lieu.tenant to 
the spring-house, and told him to help himself and men. 
While drinking the milk, the following conversation 
occurred : 

Lieutenant Adams. " You're a Quaker, ain't you ?" 

Friend, {very soberly) " Yea." 

LieiUenant Adams. " Then you're an abolitionist ?" 

Friend. "Yea." 

Lienienant Adams, {fiercely) "A staunch Union 
man ?" 

Friend, {emphatically) "Yea." 



JOHN morgan's raid AGAIN. 295 

Lieutenant Adams, (after a pause ^ " Got any Butter- 
nuts aroimd here?" 

Friend. "Yea." 

Lieutenant Adams. " Then, why don't you hang them ? 
We have a way of choking such people down our way. 

At Salem, after burning the depot, Morgan an- 
nounced his intention to burn all the mills and factories 
in the town, and issued orders to that effect. He after- 
wards reconsidered these orders,* and told the owners of 
such propert}^, that he AYOuld spare it upon the payment 
of §1,000 for each mill and factory. 

These levies upon the citizens were responded to, and 
the money paid over to the free-booter chief. This 
alone saved the town from a conflag^ration, which the 
location of the mills would have rendered inevitable. 

When Morgan took Colonel Craven, of Eipley, he 
behaved roughly at first. He asked Avhere the Colonel 
lived. "At Osgood," was the answer. "What, that 
little town on the railroad?" "Yes," said the Colonel. 
" Well," said Morgan, " I have just sent sixty men up 

there to burn the toAvn. " Burn and be d d," said 

the Colonel, " it isn't much of a toAA'n, any hoA7." Mor- 
gan Laughed heartily, at this answer, and said : " I like 
the Avay you talk, old felloAV," and released him, with 
the injunction to follow till the rear-guard had got 
past. 

At Dupont, la., the great John himself did not exhi- 
bit that chivalry, which in some quarters has" been 
claimed for him. He selected for his headquarters the 
residence of Mr. Samuel Stout. The family of Mr. 
Stout had retired, but were ordered to vacate their beds ; 
this done, they Avere soon occupied by Morgan and his 



296 JOHN mor<3^an's raid again. 

staff. Mrs. Stout and lier daughters were ordered to 
prepare breakfast for the crowd, and have it ready pre- 
cisely at four o'clock. Mr. Stout was told to have every 
thing in the best manner, and under penalty of death 
to awaken his guests precisely at four. 

After partaking of a bountiful repast, Morgan ordered 
Stout to set out immediately, with his advance guard, 
as guide. Stout asked the privilege of taking a bite 
himself; before starting; but was informed that his 
present well-being required immediate and prompt 
action. 

He was at once placed on an old, sharp-backed horse, 
without a saddle, and started on a long trot. After 
travelling twelve miles, Mr. Stout informed his captors 
that his knowledge of the roads extended no further. 
He was permitted to dismount, a sorer, if not a wiser 
man, and find his way home on foot as best he could. 

Till now, in all his troubles and trials, one pleasing 
sensation would occasionally flit across the bewildered 
brain of Mr. Stout — Morgan had promised to reward 
him liberally ; but his visions of green-backs and gold 
eagles were not realized. The renowned chief had for- 
gotten his promise. 

One of the Rebels, says a correspondent of the Com- 
mercial, very cordially invited me to make a visit at 
his house, " when this cruel war is over." (My house 
was honored with thirty or forty Rebel guests.) I gave 
it as my opinion, that his chances for getting home, to 
receive compan}', were rather slim. 

He replied, saying, he supposed I would be pleased 
to hear that he and his comrades were all killed or cap- 
tured. T assured him he was correct in his supposition. 
" I like your honesty," was the RebeFs reply. 



JOHN MOEGAN's EAID AGAIN. 297 

One of them expressed great disgust at "Northern 
sympathizers :" said he, " if they sympathize with the 

South, wliy don't the d d coAvardly traitors come 

and fight for us ?" Upon the whole, I think some good 
will result from Morgan's raid through Indiana and 
Ohio. 

Like a sudden clap of thunder, came Morgan among 
us, and passed off" to the east like a meteor, leaving the 
natives gazing after him in stupefied horror, rubbing 
their eyes, and wondering whether it was all the dream 
of a nightmare, or a reality. Quite a number of men 
and boys followed in Morgan train, keeping a safe dis- 
tance behind, however, hoping to recover their stolen 
horses. 

One old Pennsylvania Dutchman, who resides in this 
neighborhood, (East Sycamore, Hamilton County, 0.,) 
by some means, lost but one of his horses ; he mounted 
the other, and hastily pursued the flying Secesh. When 
near Batavia, he mingled a little too close with them, 
as may be proved from the fact tliat they took the 
horse he rode, Avith saddle and bridle. It is told that 
he gave vent to his injured feelings by saying to the 
'Eeb,' who took his liorse, "that is my horse, I wish, 
him good luck. I wish he preak your neck." " What's 
that ?" thundered Secesh. " I wish my horse good luck. 
I wish he preak your G — t t — m neck," repeated the 
candid German, with the additional expletive. 

^Morgan knew, before he crossed the river, who his 
friends Avere, and who had arms. Upon entering Cory- 
don, la., he showed a list (and so at. Salem,) of every 
citizen who had a Henry rifle, or other improved arm, 
and immediately sent patrols to bring them in. 

Where tlie K. G. C.'s were the thickest, there was full 



298 JOHN" morgan's raid again. 

information in liis possession, of all lie wished to know ; 
bnt Avlien he got what he wanted, he treated his tools 
as badly as enemies, and bade them good-bye, by taking 
the horses with which they had followed to guide him. 

On his way through Butler County, Morgan rested 
a few minutes at the house of a peace Democrat. John, 
in conversation, learned that liis host had eight horses, 
and generously proposed to divide, taking four himself. 
The old man had to accede, and then asked advice, as 
to how to save the other four. 

The guerrilla chief told him that his rear-guard would 
be along in about ten hours, (calculating that Hobson 
would be along in that time,) and that he must cheer 
for Vallandig^ham and Jeff. Davis, to save his horseflesh. 

At the expected time, Hobson's men came along, and 
Mr. Butternut came out, cheering lustily, as directed. 
Hobson doesn't see the joke, but takes- off the remaining 
four horses. It was very wicked of Morgan to cheat 
and deceive an old admirer. 

In taking all the horses one gentleman had, there 
was one, a great favorite, which he begged might be 
spared, offering to pay over the full price for him. 
" Plow much do you value him at?" the gentleman was 
asked. " Two hundred dollars," was the reply. " Pro- 
duce it then, and you may keep your horse." No 
sooner was the money placed in the impudent rascal's 
hands, than he pocketed it, and led off the horse. 

George T , Jr., living between New Haven and 

Harrison, met Hobson's men, the morning after Morgan's 
forces went through, and believing them some of Mor- 
gan's men, luirrahcd for John IMorgan, and told them 
he was and had been- a Morgan man. A Union soldier 
called him to his side, and clubbed him with his car- 
l)ino, knocking his infernal butternut head nearly off. 



HOW JOHN MOEGAN GOT 300 HORSES. 299 



STOEY XC. 



HOW JOHN MORGAN GOT 300 HORSES. 

John Morgan, durmo- his celebrated raid tliroiioii 
Indiana, took occasion to visit a little town, liard bj, 
with 350 of his guerrillas, while the main body was 
marching on. 

Dashing suddenly into the little "burgh," he found 
about 300 home-guards,, each having a good horse tied 
to the fences ; the men standing about in groups, await- 
ing orders from their aged captain, who appeared to be 
on the shady side of sixty. 

The hoosier boys looked at the men with astonish- 
ment, while the captain Avent up to one of the party 
and said: — 

" Whose company is this ?" 

" Wolford's cavalry," said the Eeb. 

'' What ? Kentucky boys ? We're glad to see you, 
boys. Where's Wolford ?" 

" There he sits," said a ragged, rough Eeb., pointing 
to Morgan, who was sitting sideways on his horse. 

The captain walked up to Wolford (as he and all 
thought), and saluted him : — 

" Captain, how are you?" 

" Bully ; how are you ? What are you going to do 
with all these men and horses ?" said Morgan, looking 
about. 

"Well, yoLi see that the d d horse-thieving John 

Morgan is in this part of the country, with a passel of 
cut- throats and thieves ; and between you and I, if he 
comes up this way. Captain, we'll give him the best 
we've got in the shop." 



300 HOW JOHN- MOEGAN GOT 800 HOESES. 

" He's hard to catcli ; we've been after Mm for four- 
teen days, and can't see him at all/' said Morgan, good- 
humoredly. 

" Ef our hosses would stand fire, we'd be all right." 

"Won't they stand?" 

"No, Captain Wolford, 'spose while you're restin' 
here, you and your company put your saddles on our 
hosses, and go through a little evolution or two, by way 
of a lesson to our boys ? I'm told you're a hoss on the 
drill." 

And the only man Morgan is afraid of, Wolford (as 
it were), alighted, and ordered his " boys " to dismount, 
as he wanted to show the hoosier boys how to give 
Morgan a warm reception, should he chance to pay 
them a visit. 

This delighted the hoosier boys, so that they went to 
work, and assisted the men to tie their old, weary, worn- 
out bones to the fences, and place their saddles upon the 
backs of their fresh horses, which was soon done, and 
the men were in their saddles, drawn up in line, and 
ready for the word. 

The hojs were highly elated at the idea of having 
their " pet horses " trained for them by Wolford and his 
men, and more so, to think that they would stand fire, 
ever afterward. 

The old Captain advanced, and walking up to Wolford 
(as he thought), said, "Captain, are you all right now?" 
Wolford rode up one side of the column, and down the 
other, when he moved to the front, took ofi* his hat, 
paused, and said, "Now, Captain, I'm ready. If you 
and your gallant men Avish to Avitness an evolution, 
which you, perhaps, have never seen, form a line on 
each side of the road, and watch us closely, as we pass." 



CAPTAIN ANDERSON'S RAID. 301 

The captain did as lie was directed. A lot of ladies 
were present on the occasion, and all Avas silent as a 
maiden's sigh. 

" Are jou ready ?" 

'' All right, Wolford," shouted the captain. 

" Forward P^ shouted Morgan, as the whole column 
rushed through the crowd, with lightning speed, amid 
the shouts and huzzas of all present — some leading a 
horse or two, as they went, leaving their frail tenements 
of horseflesh tied to the fences, to be provided for by 
the citizens. 

It soon became whispered about, that it was John 
Morgan and his gang ; and there was not a man in the 
town who would " own up " that he Avas gulled out of 
his horse. The company disbanded that night, though 
the captain, at last advices, still held the horses as 
prisoners of war, awaiting an exchange. 



STORY XCI 



CAPTAIN ANDERSON'S RAID. 

Early in January, 1864, Captain J. M. Anderson, 
of the 30th Ohio Infantry, Avho had been detailed as 
general recruiting of&cer for colored troops in Louisiana, 
applied to Major-Greneral McPherson, of the 17th Arm}^ 
Corps, at Vicksburg, for a company of men to make an 
excursion into the Tensas country, in Louisiana, for 
negro recruits. 

Aware of the difficulties and dangers of the under- 
taking, the Greneral declined giving him the force 

2A 



302 CAPTAIN Anderson's raid. 

desired; being fearful of their being captured: where- 
upon the Captain, nothing daunted, procured six negro 
recruits in A^icksburg, armed them with muskets, and 
accompanied by TV. P. Crockett, (son of the old hero, 
David Crockett,) as guide, and three Northern gentle- 
men, set out for AVaterproof, Louisiana, ninety miles 
doAvn the river. 

With this small, but indomitable party, with but six 
muskets and two pistols for tlieir entire armament, he 
landed at Waterproof, by night, and as a side opera- 
tion, captured a Eebel Lieutenant, a Surgeon, and two 
privates, who were attempting to cross the river into 
Mississippi. 

The captives confessed that they were of the party 
that had latel}^ fired into the Steamer Welcome, at that 
place. TLcy were consequently kept under a guard of 
two men, and delivered to the proper authority, as pri- 
soners of war, on the Captain's return. 

Immediately impressing, from the nearest plantation, 
a sufficient number of mules to mount his party, the 
Captain pushed on into the country, for Tensas Eiver, 
thirty-five miles distant. A short distance out he dis- 
covered, and gave chase to, three Rebel officers, but 
without s access, as the speed of their horses soon dis- 
tanced his mules. 

Continuing on, he gave notice to the negroes on his 
route, that he should cross the Tensas Eiver the coming 
night, for a train of mules and contrabands, and return 
on the following morning, at which time he notified 
them to be ready mounted, and return with him. 

Eiding his mules to the extent of their speed, and 
changing them three times on the journey, he reached 
the Tensas Eiver, at Kirk's Ferry, crossed on flat boats, 



CAPTAIN ANDERSON'S RAID. 803 

and went five miles beyond, to the plantation of Cap- 
tain King, wlio was absent in the Confederate army. 

Withont delay, he divested the place of all the able- 
bodied negroes, mules, horses, and wagons, and with 
those who flocked to him, on the way, safely recrossed 
the river at sunset, and visited the plantation of Colonel 
Hall, friend and confederate of General Harrison, whose 
400 cavalry were encamped within four miles. From 
Colonel Hall, he took his pistols, shot-gun — all his able- 
bodied negro men, with mules and horses sufficient to 
mount them. 

As was afterward learned, a courier got information 
from the negroes of his intended movements, escaped 
across the river, and informed the Eebels that the 
Yankees would recross the Tensas, by daylight in the 
morning, at the upper crossing. Whereupon, a force 
of thirty cavalry Avas sent thither, and lay in ambush 
till the following morning, to intercept the Captain and 
his party. 

Meanwhile the raiders had pushed on, capturing 
mules, horses, pistols, shot-guns, and negroes, and by a 
forced mai^ch, reached Waterproof, at daylight the next 
morning, (about thirty hours from the time he had left 
there,) with a train of over a hundred horses and mules, 
many wagons, and three hundred and fifty negroes. 
Here he encamped, and gathered forage, and provisions 
for the party. 

About eight o'clock, three negroes arrived on horse- 
back, announcing that the Eebel cavahy Avere only five 
miles in their rear, cautiously advancing, for fear of 
finding a gunboat ; but none was at hand for the Cap- 
tain's protection. He accordingly sent messengers im- 
mediately down the river road, to seek one, and send it 



304 THRILLING INCIDENT AT FORT DONELSON. 

up, saddled up^ and hastened down tlie river, where, 
about ten miles below, a gunboat came to his protec- 
tion, and conveyed the train to Yidalia, opposite Nat- 
chez, where the Steamboat Diligent was chartered, and 
took the entire party and train, including mules, horses, 
and negroes, to Yicksburg. 



STOEY XCII. 



THRILLING INCIDENT AT FORT DONELSON. 

Some six or eight years previous to the commence- 
men of the Avar, a citizen of Massachusetts being unjustly 
suspected of a crime, suffered the loss of friends, busi- 
ness, and reputation, which, being unable or unwilling 
to bear up against, he determined on changing his 
location. 

Accordingl}^, having so disposed his property that it 
could be easily managed by his wife, he suddenly dis- 
appeared, leaving her a comfortable home and the care 
of two boys of the ages of ten and twelve years. 

The first fear that he had soug^ht a violent death, was 
partly dispelled by the orderly arrangement of his 
affairs, and tlie discovery that a daguerreotype of the 
family-group was niissing from the parlor-table. ISTot 
much effort was made to trace the fugitive. 

When, afterward, facts were developed wliich estab- 
lished his innocence of the crime charged, it was found 
impossible to communicate with him; and, as the publi- 
cation of the story in several widely circulated papers 
failed to recall him., lie was generally supposed to be 
dead. 



THRILLING INCIDENT AT FORT DONELSON. 805 

At the outbreak of the war, his eldest son, who had 
become a young man, was induced by a friend, a Cap- 
tain in a Western regiment, to enlist in his company. 
He carried himself well through campaigns in Missouri 
and Tennessee, and after the capture of Fort Donelson, 
was rewarded Avith a First Lieutenant's commission. 
At the battle of Murfreesboro he was wounded in the 
left arm, but so slightly that he was still able to take 
care of a squad of wounded prisoners. 

While performing this duty, he became aware that 
one of them, a middle-aged man, with a full, heavy 
beard, was looking at him with fixed attention. The 
day after the fight, as the officer was passing, the sol- 
dier gave the military salute, and said : " A word with 
you, if you please, sir. You remind me of an old friend. 
Are you from New England?" 

"lam." 

"From Massachusetts?" 

"Yes." 

"And your name?" 

The young Lieutenant told his name, and how he 
came to serve in a AYestern regiment. 

" I thought so," said the soldier, and turning away, 
he was silent. Although his curiosity was much ex- 
cited by the soldier's manner, the officer forbore to 
question him and withdrew. But, in the afternoon, he 
took occasion to renew the conversation, and expressed 
the interest awakened in him by the incident of the 
morning. 

"I knew your father," said the prisoner; " is he well?" 

"We have not seen him for years," said the Lieu- 
tenant ; " we think he is dead. 

Then followed such an explanation of the circum- 
20 



306 GEXERAL XELSOX AT PITTSBURG LANDING. 

Stances of his disappearance as the young man could 
give. He had never kaown the precise nature of the 
charges against his father, but was able to make it 
quite clear that his innocence was established. 

'^ I knew your mother, also," continued the soldier ; 
" I was in love Avith her when she married your father." 

" I have a letter from her, dated ten days ago," said 
the Lieutenant. "My brother is a nine months' man 
in New Orleans." 

After a little desultory conversation, the soldier took 
from under his coat a leathern wallet, and disclosed a 
daguerreotype case. The hasp was gone, and the cor- 
ners were rounded by wear. 

" Will you oblige me," he said, " by looking at this, 
alone, in your tent?" 

Agitated, almost beyond control, the young officer 
took the case, and hurried away. He had seen the pic- 
ture before. It represented a man and a woman sitting 
side by side, with a boy at the knee of each. 

The romantic story moved the commander of the 
division to grant the young man a furlough, and both 
father and son reached home in a few days after. The 
reader is left to imagine the sequel. 



STORY XCIII 



• GENERAL NELSON AT PITTSBURG LANDING. 

It was nearly sunset when Nelson, at the head of his 
troops, landed on the west 'bank of the river, in the 
midst of the conflict. The landing and shore of the 



GENERAL NELSON AT PITTSBURG LANDING. 307 

river, up and cloY\'n, were covered with demoralized and 
beaten soldiers, whom no appeals or efforts conld ralley. 

Kelson with difficulty forced his way through the 
crowd, shaming them for their cowardice as he passed — 
rode upon a knoll overlooking his disembarking men, 
and cried out in stentorian tones : " Colonel A., have 
3^ou your regiment formed?" "In a moment. General," 
was the reply. " Be quick ; time is precious ; moments 
are golden." "T am ready, now, General." "Forward — 
march !" was the command, and the gallant 6th Ohio 
was led quickly to the field. 

That night Nelson asked Captan Guynne, of the 
Tyler, "to send him a bottle of wine, and a box of 
cigars ; for to-morrow I Avill show you a man-of-war 
fight." 

During the night Buell came up, and crossed the 
river, and by daylight next morning, our forces attacked 
Beauregard, and then was fought the desperate battle 
of Shiloh. Up till 12 M. we had gained no decided ad- 
vantage ; in fact, the desperate courage of the enemy 
had caused us to fall back. 

General Buell now came to the front, and held a 
hasty consultation with his Generals. They decided to 
charge the Eebels, and drive them back. Nelson rode 
rapidly to the head of his column, his gigantic figure 
conspicuous to the enemy in front, and in a voice that 
rang like a trumpet over the clangor of battle, called 
for four of his finest regiments in succession — the 21th 
Ohio: 36th Indiana: 17th Kentucky : and 6th Ohio. 

"Trail arms — forward — double-quick time — march!" 
— and away with thundering cheers, went those gallant 
boys. The brave Captain, now Brigadier- General Ter- 
rell, who alone was left untouched of all his battery, 



308 SKETCH OF GENERAL NELSON. 

mounted his horse, and with wild huzzas, rode with Nel- 
son upon the foe. 

It was the decisive moment : it was like Wellington's 
"Up, guards, and at them!" The enemy broke, and 
their retreat commenced. " That was the happiest mo- 
ment of my life," said the officer, my informant, " when 
Nelson called my regiment to make that grand charge." 

Let the country mourn the sad fate of General Nel- 
son ; he was a loyal Kentuckian ; fought gallantly the 
battles of his country ; earned all his distinction by gal- 
lant deeds. All his faults were those of a commander 
anxious to secure the highest efficiency of his troops, 
by the most rigid discipline of his officers, and in this 
severe duty he at last lost his life. 



» 



SKETCH OF GENEEAL NELSON. 

Major-General William Nelson was a native of 
Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky. He entered the 
Naval School, at Annapolis, at the age of fifteen, and 
graduating, was appointed a Midshipman in the United 
States Navy, January 28th, 1840. He was first at- 
tached to the Sloop -of- war Yorktown, in commission 
for the Pacific, and soon after joined the Pacific squad- 
ron, under Commodore T. Ap Catesby Jones. In 1845, 
he Avas commissioned as passed Midshipman, and ordered 
to the Frigate Paritan, forty-four guns, attached to the 
Home Squadron, under Commodore David Conner. 

In 1847, he was made Acting Master of the Steamer 
Scourge, a three gun vessel in the Home Squadron, 
l!i;^n commanded by Commodore Perry. During the 
Mexican war, he commanded a navy battery at the 



SKETCH ON GENERAL NELSON. 309 

siege of Yera Cruz, and won a liigh reputation as an 
artillerist. 

Subsequently lie commanded the Steamer Michigan, 
a one-gun vessel, running up and down the lakes. 
Shortly after his appointment, he was transferred to the 
flag ship of Commodore Morgan, the Independence, a 
fifty-fonr-gun razeed ship of the line, of the Mediter- 
ranean squadron. He was afterward transferred to the 
Cumberland, a forty-four-gun frigate, and at length re- 
turned home in the Mississippi, of ten guns. Captain 
Long, which brought over Kossuth. In April, 1855, 
he was commissioned Lieutenant, and put in command 
of the Store Ship Fredonia, of four guns, attached to 
the Pacific squadron. 

lie returned home in 1857, and went in 1858 in the 
Niagara, to return to Africa the negroes taken from the 
Steamer Echo. He was next ordered on the St. Louis, 
a war sloop of twenty guns, Commander Ogden, of the 
Home Squadron, where he remained until May, 1860, 
when he was ordered home, and at the commencement 
of 1861, was reported in the Navy Eegister as being on 
ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard. 

At the commencement of the Rebellion he was de- 
tached from the Navy Department, and placed on 
special duty in the War Department. In the spring 
of 1861, he was detailed to command the Ohio River 
fleet of gunboats. 

While on the Ohio River, in consideration of his ex- 
tensive acquaintance with the people of Kentucky, and 
his large relationship in that State, he was considered 
the person, during the ill health of General Anderson, 
to be sent into Kentucky, to sound the loyal sentiment 
there, and strengthen it. 



310 SKETCH OF GENERAL NELSON. 

In April he Avent tliitlicr^ and began the formation of 
a camp, and the recrniting of troops, at a point between 
Garrardsville and Danville, Avhich was named " Camp 
Dick Eobinson." He afterward formed a camp at AYash- 
ington. Mason County, and others at other points, and 
was highly successful in raising and organizing troops. 

He was next engaged in pursuit of the Eebels in the 
mountainous regions of Eastern Kentucky, defeating 
them on several occasions. He also fought and whipped 
Humphrey Marshall repeatedly. He afterward was ap- 
l^ointed to command the 2d Division of General Buell's 
army, advancing with him through Kentucky and Ten- 
nessee, actiDg as Major- General, though commissioned 
as a Bricradier. 

a 

He j^articipated in the battle of Shiloh, at Pittsburg 
Landing, where his bravery was conspicuous. He com- 
manded in person at the battle of Eichmond, Kentucky, 
was wounded, and being partially recovered, returned 
to Louisville, and took command of the forces there; 
having been, in the interim, made Major-General of 
volunteers. 

He was a man about forty years of age, of massive, 
line ijliysir[ue, of commanding presence, and imperious 
manners, which last resulted in his death, on the morn- 
ing of the 29th of September, at the Gait House, in 
Louisville, at the hands of Brigadier-General J. C. 
Davis, who shot him with a pistol in the abdomen. 
His death ensued in half an hour. 



FOKAGING EXPLOIT. 31? 



STOKY XCI-Y 



FORAGING EXPLOIT. 

After the battle and capture of Mission Eiclge, Gen- 
eral Palmer pushed his division forward in the direction 
of GraysvillC; and after securing a large number of arms 
and provisions, encamped on the north side of Chigka- 
mauga, and three-fourths of a mile from Graysville. 

Major D. W. Norton and Lieutenant J. W. Shaw, of 
the General's staff* were in want of forage for their 
horses, and crossed the river, with an orderly, on a mid- 
night forage. Arriving at Graysville, they reconnoi- 
tered the houses in search of corn, looked in through a 
window, and discovered seven Eebels asleep before the 
fire, with their guns stacked. Entering very quietly, 
they removed the guns, and then awakened the Eebels ; 
who, springing up, asked— 

" How far back is the enemy ?" 

"If you mean the Yankees," replied the Major, "they 
are not very far." 

Rebel " What do you mean ?" 

Major. "I mean that you are our prisoners." 

The Eebels started for the place where they had de- 
posited their guns; when the AEajor and Lieutenant 
drew their revolvers, and ordered them to lie down; 
informing them that they had the house surrounded, 
and would stand guard till morning, when they would 
be sent in. 

The Eebels obeyed the order, and prepared to finish 
their nap. Leaving them to sleep, the officers went out, 
dispatched the orderly for reinforcements, entered other 



312 CLINTON WATERS, THE SCOUT. 

liOLises, wlio]-c tlicy secured more in a similar manner, 
and when the guard arrived, turned over nineteen Rebel 
prisoners, that ihey had taken by their sharp strategy, 
amono- whom were four commissioned officers. 

o 

Other houses were searched, in which Rebels were 
found, and at one o'clock the officers returned to Grene- 
ral Palmer's camp, with about one hundred prisoners. 
The exploit was a daring one, and highly pleased " Old 
Pap," as the boys of the 14th Corps style their popular 
commander. 



STORY XCY. 



CLINTON WATERS, THE SCOUT. 

Clinton Waters, a member of the 17th Indiana 
regiment, probably performed as much scouting as any 
man in the Army of the Cumberland. 

Just before the entry of our army into Chattanooga, 
Colonel Wilder, Avith liis conniuuid, was on the north 
side of the river, awaiting the development of the ene- 
my's movements, which were such as to excite suspicion. 

Waters was selected for the duty of obtaining in- 
formation, and permitted to take his own course. An 
opportunity soon presented itself The following day 
our soldiers Avere bathing in the river, on the north side. 
I'he Rebels came down the southern bank, stripped 
themselves, and plunged in. 

A few minutes later the soldiers of the two armies 
were mingling together in the river, cracking their jokes 
and enjoying themselves to their hearts' content. Grad- 
ually Waters made his way to tlie south bank, and by 
freely expressing his joy at tlie kind reception given hy 



CLINTON WATEKS, THE SCOUT. 313 

the Yankees, excited no suspicion. Arriving at the 
bank, he leisurely put himself into a suit of Eebel 
uniform, and made his way up through the town. 

After mingling with the men, he learned the exact 
state of affairs, and turned toward the river. As he 
passed the guards, he observed that they eyed him sus- 
piciously, and having learned all that was of importance, 
he reached the river, plunged boldly in, swam across, 
and soon after presented himself at the Colonel's head- 
quarters, with the information that the town had been 
evacuated by Bragg, and that but four regiments of 
cavalry, and a small force of infantry remained. 

Waters soon exchanged his Rebel suit for his own 
dry clothes^ but did not return the stolen wardrobe. 

A subsequent exploit is also worthy of record, show- 
ing, as it does, the happy faculty he possessed to improve 
the opportunities offered. On the day of Wilder's fight 
with Pegram, at Rock Springs, Georgia, "Waters was 
captured while carrying a message. He was sent to 
Richmond, imprisoned, but bribed a Rebel with a gold 
watch he had concealed, to permit him to act as nurse. 
Shortly after, an order came for the exchange of some 
of the prisoners, and, being under charge as a spy, he 
was determined to escape. 

Providing himself with a pair of crutches on the day 
of the exchange, he bandaged his legs, scratched his 
face, applied court-plaster, and otherwise assumed the 
appearance of a wounded prisoner. 

The inmates of his hospital were ordered out, and, 
assuming the name of a deceased comrade, he succeeded 
in gaining an exchange, and in due course of time 
arrived ISTorth. He subsequently raised a company for 
the 123d Indiana, of which he became Captain. 

2B 



314 TOEFEDO EXPLOSIOX. 



STOKY XCVI. 



TORPEDO EXPLOSION. 

O^T the 4tli of August, 1863, an expedition left For- 
tress Monroe, under the direction of Major-General 
Foster, accompanied by the turreted iron-clad Saga- 
mon, and gunboats Commodore Barney and Cohasset, 
and proceeded up James river. When within seven 
miles of Fort Darling, at a point called Dutch Gap, a 
torpedo was exploded under the bow of the Commodore 
Barney, by a lock strongly connected with the shore. 

The explosion was terrific. It lifted the gun-boat's 
bow ten feet out of the water, and threw large quanti- 
ties of water high into the air, which, falling on deck, 
washed overboard fifteen of the crew. Among them 
was Lieutenant Cushing, Commander of the Barney. 
Two sailors were drowned, and the rest were saved. 
Major-General Foster was on board when the explosion 
took place. 

The enemy then opened on them from the shore with 
12-pound field-pieces. The Barney was penetrated by 
fifteen shots, besides a great number of musket-balls, 
but not a man was injured except the Paymaster, who 
was slightly wounded by splinters. 

The gunboat Cohasset received five 12 -pound shots, 
one of which passed through her pilot-house, instantly 
killing her commander, Acting-Master Cox, striking 
him in the back. The object of the reconnoisance 
being effected, the fleet returned. The Barney went 
to Newport News for repairs. 



HOW A GUEERILLA CAME TO GRIEF. 315 



STOEY XCVII. 



now A GUERRILLA CAME TO GRIEF. 

I^ tlie fall of 1862, Samuel A. High, a notorious 
West Yirginia guerrilla, who had long been a terror 
to the loyal people of Hampshire and adjoining coun- 
ties, for some unknown reason, surrendered himself 
to the authorities ; who, from motives equally inexpli- 
cable, knowing him to be a murderer and highway 
robber, set him at liberty ; after Avhich, he* engaged in 
kidnapping Union men. 

On Saturday night, late in October, Mr. John IST. 
Spencer, of Mill Creek, was laying in the woods, as all 
loyal men in that region then had to do. The night 
being rainy, Mr. Spencer became wet and cold, and 
went to his house and made a fire, when High, and nine 
or ten other, who seemed to have been waiting for him, 
rushed from the woods into the house, and seized Spen- 
cer, and started off' with him in search of another loyal 
man, near by on the way. 

High and one of his comrades got up a dispute, as to 
who should shoot Spencer, but coming to a brother-in- 
law of High's, High and two others stopped to take 
care of Spencer, and sent the others on. 

They Avent into the house, High and the guards set 
their guns down, and all gathered around the fire. 
Spencer, in the mean time, not feeling quite easy after 
the dispute above alluded to, under the pretence of being 
too warm, slipped his chair back until he could reach 
High's gun, in which he succeeded, and in a moment 
the notorious High was a corpse before him. 



316 ESC A RE OF LIEUTENANT RAYNOR. 

Spencer, taking advantage of the consternation of 
High's two accomplices, made his escape, taking with 
him High's gun, a hunting rifle. The guards, mean- 
time, broke and ran after their comrades. 

Spencer immediately started for New Creek Station, 
where he arrived in safety with his prize-the gun. He 
was greeted as the hero of the times, all rejoicing that 
High's race was run. 



STOEY XCYIII 



ESCAPE OF LIEUTENANT RAYNOR, OF OHIO, AND OTHERS, 
FROM RICHMOND. 

Mr. Murphy, learning that his wife was in deep dis- 
tress at his imprisonment, determined to effect his 
escape, and in concert with Lieutenant Raynor, and 
Captain Hurd, devised a plan. 

They observed that the surgeons were permitted to 
pass in and out without obstructions, they being dis- 
tinguished by a bit of red ribbon ; and as the sentinels 
were changed every two hours, they could pass by the 
guard as surgeons, provided they could get the neces- 
sary badge. 

Tearing a bit of red flannel from one of their shirts, 
and putting it on his coat. Lieutenant Raynor passed 
out without difficulty, and by a previous arrangement, 
he made a purchase of a pocket compass, and a map 
of Virginia. Mr. Murphy and Captain Hurd passed 
out on the next relief, by the same means, and met 
Lieutenant Raynor on the corner of a neighboring 
street. This was about eight o'clock. 



ESCAPE OF LIEUTENANT RAYNOR. 317 

Their plan was to strike a northeast direction from 
Eichmond, and crossing the Eappahannock, to reach 
the Potomac, where they expected to reach onr fleet. 
This they successfully accomplished, after great priva 
tion and suffering, extending through several days, of 
which the followins: is a brief narrative : 

After going half a mile beyond the city limits, they 
struck the Union turnpike, which they followed out. 
Owing to the darkness, they successively ran upon a 
toll-gate, guarded by soldiers, and a breast- work with 
cannon, from which they retreated, and succeeded in 
turning, unperceived, through neighboring fields. They 
met country wagons, all of which they avoided. 

After travelling fifteen miles, as daylight dawned they 
went to sleep in the woods. At nine o'clock in the 
morning they resumed their march, keeping in the 
woods, however, as long as daylight lasted. They eat 
during the day their only food, a sandwich each, which 
they had brought with them. 

The second night they crossed the Chickahominy 
river on a mill-dam, and continued their march till day- 
light, when they reached a large plantation, and nearly 
encountered a number of negroes going to their work. 
They succeeded in avoiding them, and continued their 
journey during the day, crossing the Pamunkey river 
by means of a raft, which they constructed. 

They then built a fire in the woods and made a good 
meal of roasted corn and potatoes, both of which they 
had secured in fields on their route. During their 
whole route, the roads frequently took them out of their 
course ; in which case they would abandon them, and 
guided by their compass would go across the country 
till they struck another road which suited their destina- 



318 ESCAPE OF LIEUTENANT RAYNOR. 

tion. Generall}^, they slept during tlie day, doing most 
of their travelling by night, and of course at times suf- 
fering terribly from hunger, thirst and insects. On 
Saturday they succeeded in crossing the bridge over 
the Mattapony river, ^\dthout attracting observation. 

Their map, of course, was of but little use to them 
as regarded the details of the country through which 
they were travelling, and they were at a loss to deter- 
mine where they were. On one of the roads they came 
to a cou.ntry store, on which they discovered by moon- 
light a notice posted, which they tore off and took with 
them to the woods. 

On lighting a piece of candle, they discovered it to 
be a notice to the creditors of the late General Garnet, 
who was killed in Western Virginia, to present their 
claims at Bowling Green, in Carolina county. This 
saved them the risk of making personal enquiries as to 
where they Avere, which they had determined to do the 
next morning. 

On that night they met a negro in the woods, but 
they passed by each other without salutation. They 
were assisted too, by the inspection of a guide-board, 
and at this point a negro came suddenly upon them 
unawares, but in a seeming fright ran away. Fearing 
that he might give the alarm, they ran for a long dis- 
tance, that they might be beyond the danger of pursuit. 

On Wednesday morning, about two o'clock, they 
reached the Rappahannock where they fortunately found 
a small boat. Mr. Murphy took off his shoes in passing 
through a small village near the river, that he might 
avoid making any noise, and in getting into the boat 
he accidentally left his shoes on the river bank. This 
was the occasion of much subsequent suffering, as he 



HOW A BLOCKADE RUNNER WAS CAUGHT. 319 

had to perform the remainder of the journey barefooted, 
by which his feet became terribly bruised and swollen. 

Having crossed the Eappahannock they started for 
the Potomac, and had travelled but a short distance 
when they found themselves upon the margin of a deep 
swamp, through which they were compelled to wade in 
mud knee- deep for half a mile. They continued on 
their course until they came in sight of the Potomac. 

They encountered a party of negroes unexpectedly, 
and were compelled to speak or be subjects of suspicion. 
They enquired for a boat to carry them across the river, 
announcing themselves to be Confederate officers, ob- 
tained a boat and found one of our vessels, which took 
them on board, thus ending their perilous and fatiguing 
journey, their bold, hazardous, and successful adventure 
from gloomy prison walls to liberty and life. 



STOEY XCIX. 



HOW A BLOCKADE RUNNER WAS CAUGHT. 

The following account of the manner in which a 
blockade runner Avas caught, is extracted from an 
English Magazine, and was probably written by an 
Englishman ; who, with several others, was anxious for 
a safe passage from Nassau to Dixie. 

Finding a steamer about to sail, he inquired of the 
Captain, " When do you start ?" The commander's 
voice sunk to a whisper, as he told me that at sunset 
every landsman must come on board, taking boat at 
some secluded jetty to avoid prying eyes ; and using 



320 HOW A BLOCKADE KUXKER WAS CAUGHT. 

all reasonable caution, since Nassau teamed with North- 
ern spies. 

Half an hour after sunset he was to hoist a signal, 
which was to be replied to ; and then the pilot would come 
off, and the steamer would stand out to sea. "After 
dark," muttered Pritcharcl, with an oath, " we may hope 
to get past that Yankee thief that hangs about the 
island. The Governor bade her keep at the distance 
of one marine league, but she's always sneaking in — 
now for coal, now for bread, now because her engine is 
out of order; and the United States consul communi- 
cates Avith her every day. I tell you, shipmate, there 
isn't one of us that isn't dogged up and down by rascals 
in Federal hire. See there ! that mulatto hound has 
been, after me these four daj^s," pointing to a dark-com- 
lexioned fellow, in the dress of a stevedore, who, on 
seeing himself observed, as he stood under the geranium 
hedge, lay down with well-feigned nonchalance, and lit 
his pipe. 

I found a good deal of quiet bustle and suppressed 
excitement on board the Bonnybell. The fires were 
bunked up, the swarthy faces and red shirts of the en- 
gineer and his gang, were visible at the hatch of their 
Cyclopean den, getting a breath of the cool breeze 
before starting. Some brass guns, that had been hidden 
under fruit-baskets, hen-coops, and tarpaulins, were 
visible enough now: and beside them lay piled little 
heaps of round shot. The crew bustled to and fro, and 
the Captain was so busy, that he could but return a 
brief word and a nod to my greeting. The sky grew 
darker, and surrounding objects dimmer, every instant. 

Before long the passengers arrived. Several Southern 
gentlemen, a few ladies and children, all making their 



HOW A BLOCKADE EUNNER WAS CAUGHT. 821 

way back from Europe, to tlieir homes in Carolina and 
Virginia, by this dangerous route ; and all in danger of 
imprisonment at least, if captured. 

By the uncertain light, I could see that most of them 
were pale and nervous : but they talked in an under- 
tone among themselves, and did not appear anxious to 
converse with strangers. 

"Get up steam I" By this time the hoarse roar of the 
escaping vapor grew loud and menacing, there was a 
fresh bustle on deck, and I heard the Captain give 
orders to stand by for slipping from the moorings, and 
to hoist the signal, as we only waited for the pilot. 

" There they are, sleek and right — three red lights, 
and a green one," murmu.red a tall Virginian, at my 
elbow; and looking up, I saw the colored lamps glim- 
mer from the mast head. Instantly, they were answered 
by a similar signal from some window on shore. 

" Vv^e'll soon see the pilot now," said Pritchard, rub- 
bing his hands in a cheery manner ; " the signal's made 
and repeated. In ten minutes our man will be with us. 
Helloa! — boat ahoy! — what d'ye want?" 

"Bonneybell ahoy!" was the rejoinder, in a shrill, 
harsh voice, cautiously lowered for the occasion, — 
" pilot wants to come on board." 

There was a stir, and a start of surprise, among those 
on deck ; and as a rope was thrown down to the boat- 
men. Captain Pritchard bent over the side, exclaming : 

"You're uncommon quick, my hearty. If you've 
come from shore since the lights Avere hoisted, you must 
be own cousin to the flying Dutchman. Are you sure 
you're our pilot?" 

" I'm the pilot engaged by Colonel Jeremy Carter, of 
Spottsylvania, if that'll do," answered a very tall, bony, 



322 HOW A BLOCKADE RUNXER WAS CAUGHT. 

black-liairecl man, as he actively ascended the side. 
"Zack Foster's mj namC; and I know every inch about 
Charleston where I Avas raised." 

While the Captain — reassured by the mention of 
Colonel Carter's name — gave hasty orders to cast off the 
cable and go ahead, I, in common with the rest of the 
passengers, and the unoccupied portion of the crew, 
looked with much interest at the new- corner. The 
latter was about forty years of age, long and lean of 
figure, with a hardy, sun-burned face. There was no 
mistaking the resolute air and daring of the man. His 
mouth was as firm as iron, though a little dry humor 
seemed to lurk about his lips, and I hardly liked the 
expression of his half- shut eyes, which had a lazy cun- 
ning in their dark glance. Still, though dressed in a 
black suit of shore- going clothes, and a swallow- tailed 
coat, of antiquated cut, there was something about Mr. 
Zack Foster that spoke the thorough-bred seaman. 

He took no share in the proceedings, for his duty did 
not begin till we were clear of Nassau Eoadstead ; but 
yet he seemed impatient for the start, gnawing viciously 
at his quid, and drumming on the taffrail, Avith a finger 
that seemed as hard and brown as bronze. 

It was an anxious time, when the Bonnybell, under 
a full head of steani, went darting out of the bay, her 
lookout straining their eyes to pierce the mist, and give 
warning to the helmsman of vessels ahead; while 
Pritchard walked to and fro, too fidgetty and eager to 
endure conversation, listening every instant for some 
sound that was to indicate that the Federal cruizer had 
taken the alarm. But on we went Avithout check or 
hindrance, and all drew our breath more freely, as the 
lights of the town, began one by one to vanish, as if the 



HOW A BLOCKADE EUNNER WAS CAUGHT. 823 

sea liad swallowed them, and the dark head-lauds faded 
away into obscurity. 

The American gunboat was neither seen nor felt; 
a circumstance which I did not the less regret, because 
I perceived, not only by the display of the cannon 
alluded to, but by the resolute demeanor of several of 
the crew, who stood grouped about a couple of uncov- 
ered arm-chests, that our pigmy foe would not have 
found an entirely unresisting prize. 

One slight circumstance, hardly, as I thought worth 
mentioning, did occur before we had run half a mile to 
seaward. There came a long, faint hail, from so great 
a distance as to be hardly distinguishable, even by a 
sailor's practiced ear, but which was announced to be 
addressed to us. 

" Some boat, perhaps, with a message for a passenger. 
The lubbers deserve rope's-ending for being so late — 
can I lie-to safely, do j^ou think?" said Pritchard to the 
pilot, irresolutely, and giving the word, "Slacken 
speed." What the pilot answered I know not. I only 
caught the concluding phrase — 

" Yankee tricks ; so Cap you'd best look sharp about 

you." 

So Pritchard thought. He gave the word to go at 
full speed, and we heard no more about the matter. 

The run was speedy and pleasant, over a dimpling 
summer sea, with no boisterous behavior on Neptune's 
part, to make even the lady passengers uneasy. We 
saw several vessels, but none of a hostile character ; and 
the voyage was as agreeable and safe hitherto, as any 
yachting excursion in holiday waters. We were all 
disposed to be pleased, and the pilot, although a satur- 
nine and m_orose personage, viewed through this rose- 



324 now A BLOCKADE EUNNER WAS CAUGHT. 

colored haze of satisfaction and hope, became a popular 
man on board, 

Captain Pritcbard pronounced bim wortb bis weigbt 
in gold ; for if tbere were no gales, or rougb seas to 
tbwart our purpose, fogs were ratber frequent, and bere 
tbe pilot's intimate acquaintance witb tbe rocks, sboals, 
and islets — many of wbicb were not noted down in tbe 
cbart — more tban once saved tbe Bonny bell from an 
"Ugly tbnmp upon some bidden obstacle. 

For an American, Zack Foster was singularly silent ; 
yet tbere was sometbing elepbantine about bis bigb 
forebead and narrow dark eyes, wbicb suggested shrewd- 
ness, ratber tban vanity. lie did bis work, answered 
wben spoken to, but seldom addressed any one. 

" Land-bo I" sung out tbe look-out man at tbe mast- 
bead, and Pritcbard and tbe pilot, wbo were pouring 
together over the map, close to the binnacle, looked up, 
while tbe passengers edged nearer to bear tbe news. 
Pritcbard lifted his telescope, while Foster went aloft 
for a better view ! 

" Land-ho !" 

" Edisto Island, as I said. Cap !" bailed tbe pilot ; 
" and beyond it is tbe Carolina coast. We're close to 
home, gentlemen and ladies." 

Tbere was a cheer from the little group gathered near 
tbe helm, but directly afterward came two shrill cries 
of " sail bo !" 

"Uncle Sam's breakers. "We must put out a few 
miles yet. Cap.," said tbe pilot, as be leisurely descended 
the rope ladder. There were many good glasses on 
board, and we all gazed eagerly through them, and witb 
beating hearts we recognised the port-holes, the grinning 



I 



HOW A BLOCKADE RUNNER WAS CAUGHT. 325 

cannon, the " star-spangled flags," and warlike display 
of the Federal blockading squadron." 

The steamer was put about, and we stood further out, 
until shore and ships were alike lost to view. The dis- 
appointment of the passengers, who had been granted a 
mere glimpse of the land, that to them was home, was 
considerable ; but none could doubt the prudence of de- 
laying our entrance into Charleston harbor until night 
should assist us in eluding the hostile war vessels. 

There was no going to bed on the Bonnybell that 
night ; we all kept to the deck, gazing eagerly out over 
the sparkling and phosphorescent sea, glimmering and 
glancing with St. Elmo's fires. There was a pale 3^oung 
moon — a mere sickle of silver — in the sky; and objects 
were so faintly discernible, that the utmost caution was 
necessar)r. 

The second mate took the helm, while the first mate 
superintended the almost constant heaving of the lead, 
and the captain and pilot stood on the forecastle, noting 
the replies of the sailor, chaunted, as they were, in a 
shrill monotone, in accordance with old custom. 

" Ten fathoms, sheer ! By the deep, nine ! By the 
mark, seven !" called out the leadsman from the chains. 

"Water allers does shoal here, Cap. I know the 
channel, though, as Avell as I know my parlor ashore, 
at N'antucket — at Savannah, I mean," said the pilot, 
with some confusion. 

"By the mark, five!" was the next call. 

Captain Pritchard here grew uneasy. He did not 
pretend to equal the pilot in local knowledge, but he 
was too good a seaman not to take alarm at the abrupt 
lessening of the depth. of water. He gave orders to 
reduce the speed, and we moved but slowly on, the lead 
ejoing as before, 

20 



826 HOW A BLOCKADE RUNNER WAS CAUGHT. 

"Are you sure, Mr. Foster, you're not mistaken? It 
seems to me the water shoals at the rate of a fathom for 
every hundred yards traversed. We may have missed 
the Swash, left Moultrie to leeward, and got into the 
net- work of sand banks, near. Hilloa! what's that 
ahead of us ? Boats, as I'm a sinner 1" 

At the same moment the pilot thrust his hand rapidly 
into the breast of his coat, drew out something, and flung 
it on the deck, vv^here it instantly began to sputter and 
hiss, and directly afterward, the livid glare of a blue- 
li2:ht flashed throuo^h the darkness, showin2r funnel and 
rigging, the pale faces of the passengers, the narrow 
channel of fretted water, and the sandy islets on either 
bow. 

Nor was this all, for by the ghastly light we could 
distinguish two dark objects on the foamy sea ahead 
of us — boats full of men pulling swiftly, but noiselessly 
toward us, and no doubt with muffled oars. 

" By the mark, two ! — shoal water — we're aground I" 
cried an ill-boding voice, that of the sailor in the 
chains ; and the Bonnybell came suddenly to a check, 
throAvmg most of the landsmen from their feet, while 
the ominous scrooping of the keel told that the steamer 
was aground. 

A loud claiuor instantly arose — many voices shout- 
ing at once, in tones of inquiry, dismay, or command ; 
and even above this turmoil arose the hurrah of those 
who manned the boats, and who now came dashing up, 
pulling and cheering like madmen. 

"Treachery! treachery!" cried several of the passen- 
gers and crew, pointing to where the pilot stood beside 
the blue-light, that his own perfidious hand had kin- 
dled ; while already the man-of-war's men, for such we 
could not doubt them to be, began to scramble on board. 



HOW A BLOCKADE EUNNER WAS CAUGHT. 827 

" The Yankee bloocl-liounds sure enongli ; but you 
sTiall not live to share the prize-money!" exclaimed 
Pritchard, snatching up a hand-spike, and aiming a 
blow at Mr. Zack Foster, that would have been a lethal 
stroke had not that astute person swerved aside, re- 
ceiving the weapon on his left shoulder. 

Our men set up a faint cheer, and a shot was fired, 
luckil}^ without effect. But resistance would have been 
madness, so thickly did the American sailors crowd up 
our gangway, their pistols and cutlasses ready for the 
fray ; while among them were nine or ten marines, well- 
armed with musket and bayonet, and who drove the 
Bonnybell's crew below hatches without any serious 
show of fighting. 

The Federal Lieutenant in command, to do him jus- 
tice, seemed anxious that no needless violence should 
be used, while proclaiming the vessel a prize to the 
boats of the United States war-brig Dacotah, he yet 
restrained the fury of that precious guide, Mr. Zack 
Foster, who had recovered from the effect of his knock- 
down blow, drawn a bowie-knife, and rushed upon 
Pritchard, who was struggling in the hands of his 
captors. 

" Gently, sir," said the Lieutenant ; '^ gently Quarter- 
master Fitch. These caged birds are under Uncle 
Sam's protection, and I cannot allow any ill-usage of my 
prisoners. Do you hear me, sir?" 

" Quartermaster !" exclaimed poor Captain Pritchard, 
as his wrists were thrust into the handcuffs. "You 
don't mean that double-dyed villain, that Judas of a 
pilot, is a Yankee petty officer after all? I wish I'd 
only guessed the truth a few hours back, and — if I 
swung for it — I'd have chucked the spy overboard as 
I would a mangy puppy." 



828 ESCAPE FKOM LIBBY PKISOX. 

The Lieutenant made no answer, but ordered tlie 
Captain and mates sent below, and proceeded at once 
to seize the steamer's papers^ to place the passengers 
mider arrest; and to take steps to get the Bonnybell off 
the sand-bank. 

He then compelled the ngineer to set the machinery 
at work, and we ran down, under the skillful pilotage 
of Mr. Fitch, to Edisto Island, in which anchorage we 
came to ou.r moorings under the guns of the Dacotah, 
and within a short distance of several other vessels of 
the blockading squadron. 



STORY C. 



ESCAPE FROM LIBBT PRISON. 

Early in December, 1863, the Union officers con- 
fined in Libby Prison conceived the idea of effecting 
their escape ; and after the matter had been seriously 
discussed by a few of them, they undertook to tunnel 
out, by commencing operations in the cellar, near a 
chimney ; the cellar being under the hospital, and used 
as a receptacle of straw, thrown from the beds Avhen 
changed, and for other refuse matter. 

Those who were in the secret improvised a rope, and 
by removing a few stones from the chimney, nightly 
let working parties down into the cellar, who from thence 
prosecuted their projected excavation, hiding the dirt 
under the straw, after tramping it down, so as not to 
attract observation. 

As the work progressed, a spittoon from the officer's 
room with a strin^: attached was used for hauling the 



ESCAPE FROM LIBBY PRISON. 329 

dirt out, as filled by the digger, and returned empty by 
similar means. 

After digging several feet with fingers, knives and 
chisels, the workers were stopped by piles driven in 
the ground, at least a foot in diameter. Undismayed, 
however, by this obstacle, such knives as were to be 
had were put in requisition, and after a tedious and 
laborious operation, a passage was effected through them, 
and then in a few moments the tunnels reached the 
sewer. 

But here, the stench of the sewers, and the flow of 
filthy water, proved an insurmountable obstacle to men 
whom neither earth nor wood could check, and the pro- 
ject in that direction was necessarily abandoned. 

Communicating their failure to others, a party of seven- 
teen, after viewing the premises and surroundings, con- 
cluded to tunnel under Carey street, on the opposite side of 
which was a carriage house, under Avhich they proposed 
to emerge. There was a high fence around it, the guard 
being on the outside of it. The prisoners then com- 
menced digging on the other side of the chimney, but 
were soon stopped b}'- a stone wall three feet thick. 
Knives were again called into requisition, by the dili- 
gent use of which, nineteen days and nights upon the 
mortar, enabling them to remove the stones, a passage 
through the wall was effected, and excavation resumed 
on the other side. 

After digging some days it was thought the point 
must be nearly reached for coming out ; and to test the 
matter. Captain Gallagher, of the 2d Ohio regiment, 
under pretence of having a box in the carriage house, 
for which he wished to search, (that place being the 
receptacle for goods sent the prisoners from the ISTorth,) 



380 ESCAPE FKOM LIBBY PRISON". 

was permitted to go, under guard, to the carriage liouse ; 
and in passing paced the distance as well as lie could, 
without exciting suspicion, and concluded that the street 
was about fifty feet in width. 

On the 6tli or 7th of February, concluding they had 
gone far enough, the workers commenced digging up- 
ward, when hearing the guards talking above them, 
they found that they were yet a few feet outside the 
fence. A small hole was made up through the surface 
of the ground by the falling in of a stone, the noise of 
which was heard by a sentinel, who asking his comrade 
what it meant, they after listening aAvhile concluded it 
was rats, and proceeded on their beats. The hole was 
stopped with an old pair of pantaloons filled with straw, 
and supported by boards brought from the prison. 

The tunnel was then continued six or seven feet fur- 
ther, and feelinar assured that there was no further 
impediment to their emerging into daylight, the working 
party informed others in the prison that there was a 
way open for escape. One hundred and nine of them 
decided to make the attempt. Others, fearing the con- 
sequ«nces of recapture, declined. 

On the evening of the 9th of February, about half- 
past eight o'clock, the prisoners started out, Colonel 
Eose, of New York, leading the van. Before going out 
they had divided themselves into squads of two, three, 
and four, and each squad was to take a different route, 
after getting out, and to push for the Union lines. 

The aperture was so narrow, that but one man could 
go out at a time, and each squad carried provisions with 
them in a haversack. Colonel W. P. Kendrick, of West 
Tennessee, Captain D. J. Jones, of the 1st Kentucky 
Cavalry, and Lieutenant E. Y. Bradford, of the 2d West 



ESCAPE FROM LIBBY PRISON. 831 

Tennessee^ were to go out last, and from a window could 
see tlie fugitives walk out at a gate at tlie otlier end of 
tlie inclosure, and walk fearlessly away. 

The street-lamps were extinguislied between one and 
two o'clock, wlien tlie exit was more safely accomplished. 
At half past two, Captain Jones, Colonel Kendrick, and 
Lieutenant Bradford passed out in the order named; 
and as Colonel K. emerged from the hole, he heard the 
guard within a few feet of him, sing out " Post No. 7, 
half past two, in the morning, and all's well!" Once out, 
they proceeded up the street, keeping in the shade of the 
buildings, and passed eastwardly through the city. 

The route through which Colonel Kendrick, and those 
of his party passed, and the hardships they endured, it 
will be necessary to state but briefly: Keeping the 
York Eiver road to the left, and moving toward the 
Chickahominy Eiver, they passed through Bear Swamp, 
and crossed the road leading to Bottom Bridge. 

Sometimes they waded through mud and water, al- 
most up to their necks, keeping the Bottom Bridge road 
to the left. While passing through the swamp near the 
Chickahominy, Colonel Kendrick sprained his ancle and 
fell ; and while lying there, he looked up and saw in a 
direct line with them, a swamp bridge and parties 
passing over it with muskets. 

They therefore moved further south, and passing 
through more of the swamp, reached the Chickahominy, 
about four miles below Bottom Bridge. Here was- a 
difficulty. The river, though but twenty feet wide, was 
very deep, and the refugees much fatigued. Chancing, 
however, to look up. Lieutenant Bradford saw that two 
trees on opposite sides of the river, had fallen so that 
their branches were interlocked across the stream : when, 



332 ESCAPE FROM LIBBY PRISON. 

by going up one tree and down the other, the fugitives 
soon reached the east bank of the Chickahominj^-. 

They subsequently learned from a friendly negro, 
that if they had crossed the bridge they had seen, they 
would assuredly have been recaptured ; for Captain 
Turner, the keeper of the Libby prison, had been out 
and posted guards there, and had alarmed the inhabit- 
ants, and organized them as a vigilance committee to 
capture the escaped prisoners. 

After crossing over this natural bridge, they laid 
down on the ground and slept until sunrise on the 
morning of the 11th, when they continued on their 
wa}^, as near eastwardly as they cou.ld. Having eaten 
nothing up to this time, they were almost famished ; for, 
as should have been stated. Lieutenant Bradford, who 
had charge of the haversack for this squad, had been 
compelled to leave it in the tunnel, from the narrow- 
ness of the passage. About noon they met some negroes, 
who informed them as to Avhere the Kebel pickets were, 
and also gave them some food. 

By advice of the negroes, they remained in the woods 
until night, when the negroes furnished them a supper, 
after which they proceeded on their way, having been 
first directed how to avoid the Eebel pickets. 

At one point they met a negro woman, who told them 
that her mistress was a Secesh woman, and that she had 
a son in the Kebel army. The party, however, being 
exceedingly hungry, determined to secure some food. 
This they did by boldly approaching the house, and 
informing the mistress that they were fugitives from 
Norfolk, Avho had been driven out by Butler, when the 
Secesh sympathies of the woman wore at once aroused ; 
and she ministered to their necessities, and started them 



ESCAPE FROM LIBBY PRISON. 333 

on their way, witli instructions liow to avoid tlie Yankee 
soldiers, who occasionally scouted in that vicinity. 

This information was exceedingly valuable to the 
refugees, as by it they discovered the position of the 
Union forces. When about fifteen miles from Wil- 
liamsburg they came iipon the main road, and found 
the tracks of a large party of cavalry. A piece of 
paper found by Captain Jones, satisfied him that they 
were Union cavalry ; but his companions were sus- 
picious, and avoided the road, and moved on to the 
"burnt ordinary " where they awaited the return of the 
cavalry, and from behind a fence corner, where they 
were secreted, the fugitives saw the flag of the Union, 
supported by a squadron of cavalry, which proved to 
be a detachment of Colonel Spear's 11th Pennsylvania 
regiment, sent out for the purpose of picking up escaped 
prisoners, as Colonel Straight had ere this, with a num- 
ber of other fug^itive of&cers, reached Yorktown. 

The party rode into Williamsburg with the cavalry ; 
where they were quartered for the night, and where 
they found eleven others who had escaped safely, and 
where they were furnished by Colonel Spear and his 
command with clothing and other necessaries. 

At all points along the route, the fugitives were en- 
thusiastically received by the negroes, and there was 
no lack of white people who sympathized with them 
and helped them on their way. 

Of the one hundred and nine who left the prison, 
Kebel authorities subsequ.ently claimed to have re- 
captured forty -three, and sixty are known to have 
arrived within our lines in safety ; leaving but six un- 
accounted for ; most of whom it was hoped would yet 
come in, as the Eebel scouts had given up the pursuit. 



334 LITTLE JOHXXY CLEM. 

Colonel Straight of tlie 51st Indiana Yokmteers, and 
Captain H. B. Cliamberlain of tlie 97tli New York 
Volunteers; after leaving the prison took a northeast- 
erly course, and halted at four o'clock, on the morning 
of the 10th of February, in a dense wood close by the 
Chickahominy swamps, and remained the next day. 
At dark they started again on their journey, crossing 
the Chickahominy on a fallen tree, and got into a dense 
thicket, and accomplished only five miles. The third 
night they started again^ steering for the Pamunkey 
Eiver. The detours they had to make to keep under 
cover of the woods, and traversing swamps, took them 
till daylight to reach midway between the Chicka- 
hominy and Pamunkey. Next night they reached the 
Pamunkey ten miles above the White House. The 
river was up — deep, dangerous and cold — swimming 
it impracticable. 

After four day's delay a negro took them across in 
a boat — another negro piloted them down the river, 
fifteen miles, they reached York Eiver, got across in 
a skiff) reached Yorktown on the 21st and Fortress 
Monroe the 24:th of February. 



LITTLE JOHNNY CLEM. 

A PLEASANT little incident occurred one evening at 
General Thomas' Headquarters. Little Johnny Clem, 
the motherless atom of a drummer-boy, "aged ten," 
(according to the papers,) who had strayed away from 
Newark, Ohio, and the first that was known of him, 
though small enough to live in a drum, was beating 



LITTLE JOHNNY CLEM. 885 

tlie long roll for the 3 2d Micliigan, was tlie subject and 
centre of attraction. 

At Chickamauga lie had served as " marker," carry- 
ing the guidon, by means of which the lines are formed 
— a duty similar to that of the surveyor's flag-man, who 
flutters a red signal along the metes and bounds. 

On the Sunday of the battle — the little fellow's occu- 
pation gone, he picked up a gun that had slipped from 
some djdng hand, provided himself with ammunition, 
and began putting in the periods, quite on his own 
account; blazing away close to the ground, like a fire- 
fly in the grass. 

Late in the waning day, the waif, left almost alone in 
the whirl of the battle, a Eebel Colonel dasted up, and 
looking down at him, ordered him to surrender. " Sur- 
render !" he shouted. The word was scarcely out of his 
mouth, when Johnny brought his piece to " order," and 
as his hand slipped down to the hammer, he pressed it 
back, swung his gun up to the position of " charge bayo- 
net," and as the of&cer raised his sabre to strike it aside, 
the glancing barrel lifted into range, and the proud 
Colonel fell dead from his horse. 

A few swift moments ticked on by musket-shots, and 
the tiny gunner was swooped up and borne away cap- 
tive by the Eebels. Soldiers bigger, but not better 
were taken with him, only to be swept back again, by 
a surge of Federal troops, and the prisoner of thirty 
minutes was John Clem, " of ours " again, and General 
Rosecrans made him a Sergeant, and the stripes of rank 
covered him all over, like a mouse in harness; and the 
daughter of Mr. Secretary Chase presented him a sil- 
ver medal, appropriately inscribed, which he worthily 
wears, a royal order of honor, upon his left breast ; and 



336 LITTLE JOHNNY CLEM. 

all men conspire to spoil liim, but since few ladies can 
get at him here, perhaps he may be saved. 

But, what about last night? Well, like Flora 
McFlimsey, the Sergeant had " nothing to wear ;" the 
clothing in the wardrobe of loyal livery was not at all 
like Desdemona's handkerchief, "too little," but like 
the garments of the man who roamed over a baker's 
oven, " a world too wide," and so Miss Babcock, of the 
Sanitary Commission, suggested to a friend, that a uni- 
form for the little Orderly would be acceptable. 

Mr. Waite, and other gentlemen of the "Sherman 
House," order it ; Messrs. A. J). Titsworth & Co., made 
it ; Chaplain Eaymond brought it ; IMiss Babcock pre- 
sented it ; and Johnny put it on. Chaplain Eaymond, of 
the 51st Illinois, by the by, a most earnest and efQ.cient 
of&cer, accompanied the gift with exceedingly appro- 
priate suggestions and advice. 

This morning we happened at the headquarters just as 
the belted and armed Sergeant was booted and spurred, 
and ready to ride. Eesplendent in his elegant uniform, 
rigged cap-a-pie, modest, frank, with a clear eye and a 
manly face, he looked more like a fancy picture than a 
living thing. 

Now he is in his thirteenth year, yet he would be no 
monster if called but nine. Think of a sixty-three 
pound Sergeant — fancy a handful of a hero, and then 
read the " Arabian Nights," and believe them ! Long- 
live the little Orderly ! 

TO § 7 8 














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